Fauci Gets Lifetime Achievement Award For Work On AIDS Crisis

WASHINGTON, DC — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert who has become well-known nationwide during the coronavirus pandemic, has been presented a lifetime achievement award for his work on the global HIV/AIDS crisis. He was honored this week by legendary singer Elton John at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition's virtual tribute celebration, CNN reported.

"There are very few people on this planet who have dedicated themselves to a lifetime of service to save millions of lives like Dr. Fauci," John said during the ceremony, according to CNN. "What a wonderful and fitting way to mark World AIDS Day, by honoring one of the biggest champions in the history of the AIDS epidemic."

Fauci was the AIDS coordinator for the National Institutes of Health and became the first director of the NIH' office of AIDS research. In 2003, he aided in the creation of President George W. Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief, CNN noted.

He said HIV "is still going to be there" even when the coronavirus "essentially becomes the rearview mirror" during Tuesday's virtual tribute.

"And that's the thing that we have to do. We have to keep our eye on that and never let that -- the end game of ending this is, to me, we're going to get there, and we're going to get there while I'm still around, I can tell you."

John is the founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation that works to prevent HIV and AIDS infections and provides treatment with "love compassion, and dignity," according to its website.

He said Fauci's “unwavering commitment to public health and innovation has transformed the approach to HIV."

"And it is his leadership and persistence that will ultimately help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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