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To mark World AIDS Day 2007, the Government has launched a series of activities to raise public awareness of the prevention of HIV/AIDS and to promote safe sex.
Hong Kong has had a low HIV prevalence for more than two decades since the first case was reported in 1984, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, said today (November 30) at a ceremony to mark World AIDS Day. He thanked government departments, academics, non-government organisations and various community sectors for their unrelenting efforts.
Dr Chow said, "To effectively curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, much needs 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 with excellent opportunities to remove any misunderstanding about 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 priority areas in combatting HIV/AIDS have been identified. The Council for AIDS Trust Fund has also responded to the emerging trend of increasing HIV infections among men having sex with men by setting up a special project fund targeted at this at-risk group.
At the end of the third quarter of 2007, the accumulated total of reported HIV and AIDS cases stood at 3,525 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 for the second quarter of this year.
In response to the increase, the government and concerned organisations have stepped up their efforts in education on and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
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 P Y Lam, said that to tie in with the theme of World AIDS Day the government and AIDS concerned parties had launched a series of activities to raise public awareness of the disease and promote acceptance of people living with HIV.
Publicity events in the coming months included the showing of a television 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 organising today's event.
The ceremony ended with a birthday cake cutting ceremony, which was led by the patron of the Red Ribbon Centre, Mrs Selina Tsang, to commemorate the centre's 10th anniversary.
Other officiating guests of the 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
Issued at HKT 15:31
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