2007-11-30
To mark the World AIDS Day 2007, the Government has launched a series of publicity activities to raise public awareness on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and promote safer sex practice.
Hong Kong has been enjoying a low HIV prevalence for more than 2 decades since the first case was reported in 1984, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, said today (November 30) at the kick-off ceremony to mark the World AIDS Day.
He thanked the concerted and unrelenting efforts of the concerned government departments, academics, non-government organizations and the various community sectors.
Dr Chow said, "To effectively curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, much need to be done to get rid of the misunderstanding about the disease and the people who are affected by it. The ensuing series of activities will definitely provide the public excellent opportunities to remove any misunderstanding against this disease and to know more about its effective preventive measures."
Dr Chow added that the Advisory Council on AIDS launched its HIV/AIDS strategies for Hong Kong 2007-2011 early this year. Five areas of priorities in the combat of HIV/AIDS have been identified. The Council for AIDS Trust Fund has also reacted to the emergent trends of increasing HIV infections amongst men having sex with men by setting up a special project fund targeted at this at-risk population.
As the end of the third quarter of 2007, the accumulated total of reported HIV and AIDS cases stood at 3525 and 917 respectively in Hong Kong. A total of 125 cases of HIV infection and 24 new cases of AIDS were reported in this quarter, indicating an increase of about 7% and 33% respectively when compared with the figures of the second quarter of this year.
In response to the increase, the government and the concerned organizations have stepped up their efforts in the education and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
The World AIDS Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the global AIDS epidemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. The theme this year is "Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise".
Also speaking during the ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr PY Lam, said to tie in with WAD's theme the government together with AIDS concerned parties had launched a series of activities to raise public awareness of the disease and promote the acceptance of people living with HIV.
Publicity events in the coming months included the showing of a TV API (announcement of public interest) featuring UNAIDS Special Representatives Miriam Yeung as well as radio programmes introducing the AIDS response from the government and other stakeholders.
"The community should also work together to support and care for persons living with HIV," Dr Lam added.
He thanked Radio Television Hong Kong for their assistance in jointly organizing today's event.
The ceremony was concluded by a Birthday Cake Cutting Ceremony, which was led by Patron of Red Ribbon Centre, Mrs Selina Tsang, to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the Red Ribbon Center.
Other officiating guests of the Kick-Off Ceremony included the Director of Broadcasting, Ms Gracie Foo; UNAIDS Special Representative, Miss Miriam Yeung Chin-wah; Director of Shenzhen CDC, Dr Cheng Jin Quan; Coordinator for Control of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance of Diseases, Macau CDC, Dr Lam Chong; Chairman of the Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS, Professor C N Chen; Chairman of the Council for the AIDS Trust Fund, Professor T K Chan; Chairman of Red Ribbon Centre Management Advisory Committee, Dr Samuel Yu and Convener of World AIDS Day Working Group, Dr Billy Ho.
Ends/Friday, November 30, 2007