By AIDS.gov

“HIV Resilient.” That’s the theme for the June 5, 2017, observance of HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day (HLTSAD).

Today we offer some resources for your online and in-person communications about HLTSAD.

Share the Stories

Here are some resources that include personal stories of resilience. Please bear in mind that “long-term survivor” can mean anyone who has been living with HIV for a long time, regardless of age—so these resources offer personal stories from a variety of individuals:

• HRSA’s Living History video “Positive Voices” includes thoughtful comments on resilience and hope among some people who have been living with HIV for years. The comments from people of all ages may also enable you to have intergenerational conversations about long-term survival.
• Positive Spin is a series of real stories from real people about their unique experiences along the HIV continuum of care. For example, Paul’s story exemplifies resilience, surviving and thriving. He was diagnosed with HIV in 1987—a time when doctors and researchers were still learning about HIV and how to treat it. An HIV activist and advocate, husband, father, and grandfather, Paul says “I feel like I’ve got a lot of years ahead of me. I’m extremely happy.”
• At USCA, several long-term survivors talked about the meaning of changing science for their lives and for the collective conversation about living with HIV and ending the epidemic. Check out this Facebook Live session for their inspiring perspectives.

Share the History

Not everyone knows a long-term survivor or what they have lived through. Even if you do know someone who has lived with HIV for many years, the observance of HLTSAD is also an opportunity to reflect on our collective history.

The AIDS.gov Timeline of HIV/AIDS chronicles change and resilience across the epidemic’s growth and our national prevention, care, treatment, and research efforts. The efforts of long-term survivors are embedded in this history. And for a closer look at CDC’s first report of what would come to be known as HIV, here’s the June 5, 1981 MMWR article that chronicled them.

More Actions

Here are a few ways to mark HLTSAD:

• Visit the awareness day lead organizer’s site at HLTSAD.org.
• Host a screening and discussion of the stories highlighted above. The Positive Spin facilitator’s guide and HRSA’s Living History resources can help you start the conversation.
• Connect people to HIV care: Share the HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator. Add the locator widget to your site, and your audience can find nearby care services such as housing assistance, mental health and substance use care, HIV treatment, and more.
• Share facts and resources from our HLTSAD page.
• Badge: Our HLTSAD page also has a web badge you can post on your site. The page has many other resources too!
• Hashtag: To join the conversation, search #HLTSAD. You can follow @AIDSgov and @NLM_HIVplus50 year-round for tweets about HIV care, national health observances, and more.
• Need content for your tweets and posts? Check out our HIV Basics section and its resources on the Staying Healthy with HIV and Aging with HIV
• Share your story of resilience with the hashtag #mypositivespin. If you want free assistance and tips about using digital storytelling tools, our Virtual Office Hours experts can help.

More Resources

We encourage you to check out these additional resources:

• National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project (NATAP) educates individuals about HIV and hepatitis treatments and advocates for all those living with HIV and HCV. Among its resources are newsletters rich with current resources.
• The Graying of AIDS project offers “portraits and oral histories of both long-term survivors and older adults who contracted HIV later in life with HIV/AIDS information to increase awareness, sensitivity, and collaboration among care giving professionals.’

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