(CNN) -- Last year on World AIDS Day, President Barack Obama said that we can achieve an AIDS-free generation "if we stay focused, and if we keep fighting," and challenged the world to "come together to set new goals" in the war against AIDS. Three decades into the epidemic, important headway has been made thanks to ambitious efforts by the U.S. government to end AIDS here and abroad. The National HIV/AIDS Strategy, released in 2010, is the nation's first comprehensive road map with clear and measurable targets to be achieved by 2015: reduce new HIV infections, increase access to care and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV and reduce HIV-related disparities. Over the past four years, it has prioritized funding where it will have the most impact.
@highlight
Barbara Lee and Kenneth Cole: Big strides made in HIV/AIDS fight
@highlight
HIV diagnoses have declined among blacks, Latinos and women, they say
@highlight
An estimated 35 million people worldwide are living with HIV, authors argue
AIDS
AIDS
AIDS
Importantly, @placeholder diagnoses (or diagnosing people late in their disease progression) decreased among all racial and transmission groups during this time.
AIDS
AIDS
AIDS
Though HIV diagnoses decreased among injecting drug users from 2008 to 2012, @placeholder-related deaths remain the highest in this population.
AIDS
AIDS
AIDS
And more people than ever are receiving lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, leading to historic declines in @placeholder-related deaths worldwide.
U.S.
The @placeholder must be a leader in this effort.
AIDS
AIDS
AIDS
The United States leads the world in its commitment to combating @placeholder globally.
HIV
HIV
HIV
HIV
We have an obligation to sustain and increase our contributions to the global @placeholder effort, especially since the U.S. contribution to foreign aid (including HIV prevention and other efforts) is less than 1 of our total budget.
AIDS
AIDS
AIDS
We must overcome our differences, combine our strengths and our resources and unite in our quest to finally end @placeholder and ensure the health and prosperity of future generations.