Promoting HIV Education and Awareness

For a Healthy and HIV-Free Latinx Community

National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day

Ending HIV is Everyone’s Job.

The National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) is a national community mobilization and social marketing campaign that unites the Hispanic/Latino community in efforts to raise HIV awareness, promotion of HIV testing, prevention, and education; in addition to other critical health issues such as viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and tuberculosis (TB).

Annually on October 15th, NLAAD mobilizes community based organizations, leaders of the Latino community, health departments, and elected officials to spread awareness within the Latino community about HIV&AIDS, and bring about improvements in HIV related health practices by building capacity, developing and disseminated resources, utilizing media channels, and casting the spotlight on Latino faces behind the epidemic.

History

NLAAD was founded in 2003 as a joint effort of the Latino Commission on AIDS and Hispanic Federation in response to the devastating impact HIV/AIDS has on Hispanic/Latino communities across the country. It was established to draw attention to the critical role HIV testing and prevention education plays in stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS among Hispanics/Latinos. The day of October 15th was chosen to coincide with the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Strategy

The Latino Commission on AIDS coordinates the NLAAD campaign in a macro level; however, local organizations are the ones who take ownership of their events by planning and organizing them. The commission provides them with resources such: webinars, HIV testing kits, campaign promotional materials. Local organizations are encouraged to develop awareness campaigns to address the local epidemic and target audience with culturally appropriate messages.

Impact

Since its establishment in 2003, NLAAD has solidified support from 450 partners who together, organize 150+ annual events across the United States. Just in 2015, NLAAD distributed 5,000 HIV testing kits to certified HIV testing sites throughout the U.S.; disseminated Facebook ads which had over 1 million impressions and over 11 thousand clicks; distributed over 4,000 NLAAD posters to our partners nationwide; broadcasted a radio PSA to over 250 Spanish language radio networks, reaching over 11.5 million listeners.