Our AIDS Walks Are Only Beginning: A Commentary and Call to Increase HIV Advocacy Efforts in the Rural Upper...

In the rural Upper Midwest, persistent HIV-related stigma and limited services continue to impede care for people living with HIV, despite advances in treatment that have reduced morbidity and mortality. Community-based advocacy initiatives, such as the Black Hills AIDS Walk, can decrease stigma, increase HIV education, and expand access to comprehensive care. Targeted strategies, such as contact-based stigma reduction, provider and public education, and expansion of local and telehealth services, address barriers unique to rural settings. Nurses are well positioned to lead these efforts through community outreach, care coordination, and policy advocacy. By centering local engagement and evidence-based stigma-reduction practices, rural HIV advocacy can improve visibility, acceptance, and treatment access for people living with HIV and help reduce regional disparities in HIV outcomes. Further evaluation of programs like the Black Hills AIDS Walk is needed to quantify impacts and guide scalable interventions.