In a notable recognition of resilience and remembrance, the City of Cleveland has officially declared June 5 as HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day (HLTSAD), dedicated to honoring those living long-term with HIV, a sobering reminder of the enduring impacts of what was initially reported as AIDS on this same date. The City of Cleveland confirmed that this day will now serve not only to acknowledge the long journeys of survival and the progressive strides in healthcare, but also to highlight the needs and health issues these survivors continue to face.
The inception of HLTSAD as a recognized event was not an overnight decision, it’s been the culmination of efforts by various community partners, healthcare advocates, and, significantly, the HIV long-term survivors themselves, people who have been living with this virus for more than a decade, some since birth or as young children and those who faced their diagnoses head-on before antiretroviral therapy became available in 1996.
To learn more about this event or the continued efforts in support of HIV long-term survivors in Cleveland, please visit the official city announcement.
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