National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) (Spanish: El Día Nacional de Concientización Latina del SIDA) takes place in the United States of America and its territories on October 15, the last day of National Hispanic Heritage Month, and aims to increase awareness of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the Hispanic/Latino population living in the United States including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
[2][3] The first NLAAD was in 2003, initiated by the Latino Commission on AIDS under the leadership of Dennis deLeon[1] joined by the Hispanic Federation and attracted support from various community groups.
[4] The day was observed in more than 100 cities around the United States including New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago.
[6] The theme for NLAAD in 2004 was Abre Los Ojos: el VIH No Tiene Fronteras - Open Your Eyes: HIV Has No Borders.
The day was recognised with statements by Tommy Thompson as Secretary of Health and Human Services[7] and Anthony Fauci as Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases[8] Activities were organised in almost 250 cities in 45 states "to increase HIV awareness among Latinos, and to address the stigma and discrimination associated with AIDS" and attracted sponsors including American Airlines, Verizon Foundation, Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, Terra, PR Newswire, Viacom, Univision and NBC/Telemundo.
[9] By the third NLAAD in 2005, the number of community partner organisations had reached 1000 and the day was marked in more than 350 cities in 46 states and in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands around the message Abre los ojos: Ama Tu Vida, Protegete, Hazte La Prueba - Open Your Eyes: Love Your Life, Protect Yourself, Get Tested.
Activities included prevention education, free testing, press conferences, public service announcements on major television networks and a Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., on 18 October 2005.
NLAAD claimed "380 partners who together, organized 160 events in 101 cities across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Produced by The Kaiser Family Foundation and Univision Communications, SOY was described as a "Spanish-language media campaign featuring the personal stories of a diverse group of Latinos living with HIV and the people who love them.