MLK Jr., Public Health, and HIV in 2026
By Dr. José M. Zuniga
Each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reflect not only on a historical figure, but on a set of values that continue to shape our collective work for a healthier, more just society. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke powerfully about justice and human dignity, including the stark reality that “of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” That insight resonates deeply in today’s public health landscape, particularly in the intersecting challenges of HIV care and access to essential services.
In the United States, advancements in HIV prevention and treatment – from PrEP to antiretroviral therapy (ART) – have transformed the epidemic and saved countless lives. But equitable access to these innovations remains uneven. HIV disproportionately affects structurally marginalized communities, notably Black and Latino populations. Efforts to end the epidemic cannot succeed unless we reduce barriers that keep people from the care they need – barriers rooted in stigma, discrimination, and the broader conditions in which people live and seek care.
At present, many communities face additional disruptions to health care access tied to heightened immigration enforcement. Recent federal enforcement operations have contributed to fear and uncertainty among undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families. Provider reports indicate fear of deportation is prompting people to delay or forego needed medical care, including preventive and chronic disease services. These patterns are backed by Emergency HIV Clinical Services Survey results showing significant declines in clinical visits and care utilization in areas experiencing intensified enforcement.
This shift has profound implications for public health. For people living with HIV, continuity of care is essential. ART interruptions can lead to viral rebound, increased risk of transmission, and preventable complications. For those vulnerable to HIV acquisition, disruptions in prevention services like PrEP and regular testing can slow progress towards averting new infections. And fears that affect one group can ripple outward, increasing emergency care strain and amplifying disparities across the health system.
Dr. King taught us that injustices in health are neither accidental nor abstract. They emerge where policies, practices, and everyday choices intersect with social vulnerability. Today’s context shows that when fear replaces trust, when access to care feels conditional, and when people are forced to choose between safety and health, we must reckon with the moral cost of those conditions.
Public health calls on us to build systems that protect dignity. This means safeguarding access to HIV prevention, treatment, and supportive services for all people – regardless of immigration status or any other factor – and ensuring that clinics, pharmacies, and community organizations are safe, welcoming spaces. It means expanding culturally responsive outreach and care models that reduce fear, not amplify it, and that strengthen the continuity of care that has been so central to HIV progress.
At the same time, the broader impacts of enforcement-related stress – including increased anxiety, trauma, and avoidance of care – point to the interconnectedness of mental health with physical health. Whether someone is seeking HIV services, managing diabetes, or attending to other health needs, fear-driven avoidance of care undermines the fundamental goal of public health: to prevent disease and promote wellbeing for all communities.
Dr. King’s vision of the “beloved community” calls on us to shape systems and spaces where trust, compassion, and equity are foundational. In HIV work, this translates into advocating not just for biomedical innovation, but for policies and practices that reduce barriers and expand inclusion. It means listening to community voices, including those whose care access is most threatened, and responding with urgency and empathy.
As we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2026, let this be a moment of recommitment: to protect the hard-won advancements in HIV care, to support people in all communities seeking health and safety, and to affirm that health care is a right, not a privilege. The moral arc of public health bends toward justice when we choose policies and practices that extend dignity and care to everyone, especially those facing the greatest obstacles.
Dr. José M. Zuniga is President/CEO of IAPAC and the Fast-Track Cities Institute.
