Apple’s (RED) work raises $270m to fight AIDS, COVID

What ethical consuming can help achieve

Apple’s lengthy 15-year association with (RED) has raised almost $270 million to support the struggle against HIV/AIDS and (more recently) COVID-19, the company announced on World AIDS Day.

Fighting pandemics every way we can

To commemorate the day this year, Apple is offering (RED) products and adding content to services. Money donated to the Global Fund by the company on sale of any (RED) product has helped provide better healthcare to communities most in need in sub-Saharan Africa.

The company explained some of the ways Apple-supported grants have made a difference:

• They have enabled care and support services for over 11 million people
• Provided over 192 million HIV tests.
• Given 13.8 million people access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatments.
• In 2020 alone, Apple’s support for (RED) helped prevent over 145,000 HIV-positive mothers passing the virus on to their babies.

Over the past 18 months, COVID-19 has created new challenges in accessing care, diagnostics, and supplies, often further stretching crucial HIV/AIDS programs. To meet these challenges, Apple was one of the first companies to shift focus to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response.

The effort had tangible benefits, for example:

• In Zambia, local clinics were able to purchase motorbikes used to deliver lifesaving HIV treatment to local communities when in-person visits declined due to COVID-19.
• The effort helped fund programs in Ghana that gave medical providers resources to procure supplies in bulk so they could make multi-month deliveries to those most at risk. Apple has an extensive and interesting report on this here.

Corporate responsibility

“These things are about humanity, not whether someone has a right or left or centrist view,” said Apple CEO, Tim Cook in 2016. “I think it’s hard to argue that saving someone’s life with medication is a political thing.”

“Of course corporations should have values because people should have values,” he also said.

“Corporations are just a bunch of people.”

Amen to that.

Raising the temperature

Apple is introducing more ways to support (RED) and its critical work through (PRODUCT)RED devices and accessories, an Apple Pay donation program, and special service collections. From now until December 6, Apple is donating $1 to the Global Fund for every purchase made with Apple Pay on apple.com, in the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store

Apple already offers (RED)-branded products including iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini and Apple Watch Series 7. A portion of the proceeds from every (PRODUCT)RED purchase goes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.

Until the end of next year, half of the eligible proceeds from (RED) purchases will be redirected to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response.

Starting today, Apple Watch 7 users can show their support for (RED) directly from their wrist with a selection of six Apple Watch faces in red.

Hundreds of Apple Stores worldwide are marking the week with red logos or window displays.

Services support RED

All Apple’s services are working to support the scheme.

• The App Store is highlighting Positive Singles, an inclusive dating app that connects singles living with HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections.
• Apple Books is featuring collections of books and audiobooks, including nonfiction books about the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
• Apple Podcasts will feature shows that examine the state of the global AIDS crisis, including episodes that investigate how racism has inhibited access to quality care, describe the latest in preventative medicine and how it’s been unevenly distributed, and explain why there still isn’t a cure.

• On Apple Music, subscribers can listen to a curated selection of music programming, radio episodes, and more in a special Apple Music feature in recognition of World AIDS Day.
• Apple TV app users can explore a riveting collection of TV shows and movies on the Watch Now tab that reveal the human cost of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

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