On World Aids Day, Apple expands (RED) partnership to combat HIV/AIDS and COVID-19

Apple’s 14-year partnership with (RED) has raised almost $250 million to fund HIV/AIDS programs, but now the companies are expanding those efforts to help fight COVID-19.

Through June 30 of next year, the Cupertino technology giant will send 100 percent of eligible proceeds from (PRODUCT)RED purchases to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response to help provide services and treatment to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

From the press release:

This year, communities around the world are grappling with HIV/AIDS as they also work to respond and protect against COVID-19, particularly for vulnerable populations. COVID-19 has created challenges in accessing care, diagnostics and supplies, often disrupting crucial HIV/AIDS programs.

To alleviate these challenges and ensure continuity in life-saving HIV/AIDS services, Apple’s contributions were redirected to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response at the onset of the pandemic earlier this year. Thanks in part to support from Apple and Apple customers, the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response has been able to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on the communities most affected by HIV/AIDS and provide critical support in health systems threatened by the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the company, since its inception fourteen years ago back in 2006 Apple’s partnership with (RED) has created almost $250 million in donations for the Global Fund’s HIV/AIDS programs that offer prevention, testing and counseling services.

Apple-supported grants have:

  • Provided 10.8+ million people with care and support services
  • Helped with distribution of 167+ million HIV tests
  • Provided 13.8 million people with ongoing access to life-saving ARV treatment

And this:

These funds have allowed for additional contact tracing in South Africa, helped secure critical personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers and emergency medical equipment in Ghana and enabled the purchase of motorbikes to deliver HIV treatment to local communities that have been unable to seek in-person health services due to COVID-19. Apple also donated millions of units of PPE to the Ministry of Health in Zambia, including both surgical masks sourced from its supply chain as well as face shields designed and produced by Apple.

Apple customers can support (RED)’s efforts in ways more than one, including purchasing (PRODUCT)RED devices and accessories available this holiday season from Apple.com, including (PRODUCT)RED edition of the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini and Apple Watch Series 6.

And through December 7, the iPhone maker will be donating $1 for every purchase made with Apple Pay on apple.com, in the Apple Store app or at an Apple Store to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response. On top of that, customers can educate themselves on HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 via related stories on the App Store and in the TV app.

  • Apple Music:
    • Tune into the debut of “Jaiye” (“Time of Our Lives”) by Nigerian musician LADIPOE
    • Listen to the interview with LADIPOE, Aluna and Don Jazzy on The Ebro Show on Apple Music 1
    • Check out curated music and more in a special Apple Music feature
  • App Store:
    • Read featured stories to learn more about the challenges of fighting HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 concurrently and how (RED) is handling two pandemics
    • Download the featured Medisafe app to help manage your medications
    • Download the OkaySo app from (Tincan Labs) to anonymously ask sensitive health questions and get expert answers
  • TV app:
    • Check out a new World AIDS Day collection in the Watch Now tab to learn about the human cost of the HIV/AIDS epidemic

On top of that, all physical Apple stores are marking the day with red logos or window displays. Last but certainly not least, Apple has separately highlighted how PPE donation helps Zambia in the fight against COVID-19 and HIV.