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The Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Wong Ka-hing, today (August 29) called on people at continual risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection to take tests regularly.
"Similar to that for other diseases, early diagnosis and management of HIV improves survival and quality of life. People who have unsafe sex or inject drugs and their partners should have an HIV test as early as possible," Dr Wong said at a media briefing jointly organised with the Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA) today.
The number of newly diagnosed HIV infections is rising every year, with 123 new HIV cases reported to the CHP in the second quarter of 2013, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 6 045 since 1984. Most people living with HIV have no specific signs and symptoms at the early stage. However, delay in HIV diagnosis and treatment could be serious and fatal.
Studies have proven beyond doubt that anti-HIV treatment significantly improves survival rates, reduces disease progression and decreases HIV transmission. Overseas studies have indicated that anti-HIV treatment coupled with proper care and counselling can reduce HIV transmission from infected persons to their HIV-negative partners by up to 96 per cent. Around 90 per cent of those people living with HIV in Hong Kong and managed at the DH's HIV clinic are receiving anti-HIV treatment and most of them have a fully suppressed viral load.
"Nowadays, a higher level of HIV awareness and HIV testing has been observed in the community but it is still inadequate," Dr Wong said.
Despite the promise of modern medical treatment, some 40 per cent of reported HIV cases were only diagnosed when they began to suffer from AIDS or other complications as a result of a low immune level. A considerable number of people living with HIV, especially females, are unaware of contracting HIV from regular partners until they were diagnosed at a late stage. Also, around 30 per cent of reported HIV cases are not followed up in public HIV clinics.
"In fact, increased awareness of HIV and sensitivity towards the needs of vulnerable populations among healthcare providers are pre-requisites for getting more people living with HIV diagnosed and connected to care and treatment. Primary care providers are important gatekeepers in promoting the early testing of HIV and linking infected persons to appropriate care," Dr Wong said.
At today's media briefing, the President of the HKMA, Dr Tse Hung-hing, agreed that private primary care providers provided a convenient and confidential setting for HIV test.
"Private primary care providers have a unique role to save people living with HIV and their partners because of geographical advantages, flexible hours and service provision, and the knowledge of patient's history to provide a more holistic care," Dr Tse said.
Nearly 60 per cent of clinic consultations in Hong Kong are made with primary care practitioners in the private sector, who are pivotal in facilitating the HIV test and referring infected persons to HIV clinics. According to the latest figures from the DH, there is an increasing trend in the number of infected cases reported by private hospitals and clinics, up from 16 per cent in 2001 to 24 per cent in 2012.
"As front line primary care practitioners it is our responsibility to safeguard the health of our clients and their partners, to get them diagnosed and treated early," Dr Tse added.
Dr Tse said that many private laboratories in Hong Kong are able to provide the HIV antibody test nowadays. The laboratories will seek confirmation from the Public Health Laboratory Centre of the DH for preliminary positive test results. Private primary care providers are encouraged to initiate blood screening HIV tests for their clients as with other body check-ups, and to send samples to private laboratories for testing.
Dr Tse urged people who suspect themselves to have been infected to consult doctors and take an HIV test as soon as possible.
To solicit the support of primary care practitioners a seminar titled "Update on HIV Infection, Treatment and Prevention" was jointly organised by the DH and HKMA for general practitioners to raise awareness of their roles in HIV prevention and testing. Over 110 healthcare professionals participated in the seminar to keep abreast of the latest developments in HIV epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and healthcare services.
The DH will continue to raise awareness of HIV, facilitate voluntary HIV testing in the community and sustain high quality treatment and care services for people living with HIV.
For more information about the local situation and programmes on AIDS, please visit the website of the Virtual AIDS Office of the DH (www.aids.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, August 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:43
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