AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today mourned the passing of Stephen Lewis, a Canadian diplomat, humanitarian, and a prominent advocate in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Lewis, who served as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from 2001 to 2006, brought urgency, moral clarity, and global attention to a crisis that was too often overlooked at a critical moment in the epidemic.

Lewis helped push the world to confront the scale of the AIDS crisis and the deep inequities in access to treatment. He was an outspoken advocate for expanding access to affordable medicines and for a stronger, more urgent global response. He also spoke powerfully on behalf of women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, particularly those left orphaned by the disease. His voice helped drive greater political will and expand international commitment to HIV programs, especially in the hardest-hit regions.

“Stephen Lewis was a strong advocate for people whose voices were too often unheard,” said AHF Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy Terri Ford. “He brought a bottom-up perspective to global health and spoke with clarity and conviction about the need for equitable access to treatment. His legacy lives on in the progress achieved—and in the ongoing effort to bring HIV treatment to all who still lack access.”

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2.8 million individuals across 50 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. In January 2025, AHF received the MLK, Jr. Social Justice Award, The King Center’s highest recognition for an organization leading work in the social justice arena. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

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