HIV Prevalence in Hong Kong Stays Low; HIV Testing Month Promotes Awareness and Testing

DH continues to organise "HIV Testing Month" to promote normalisation of HIV testing

​The Department of Health (DH) today (December 8) said that, with the concerted efforts of the government, the healthcare sector and non-governmental organisations, the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection among the adult population in Hong Kong remains at 0.1 per cent, well below the global average, and the number of new HIV cases recorded also continues to decline for nine consecutive years since 2015, demonstrating the effectiveness of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention and control in Hong Kong. Like last year, the DH launches "HIV Testing Month 2025" in December to raise public awareness and knowledge on prevention of HIV infection, and to promote normalisation of HIV testing.

The Government has attached great importance to HIV infection control and prevention. Since the first case of HIV infection reported in Hong Kong in 1984, the Government has adopted a multipronged approach to prevent and control AIDS, including the provision of free, anonymous and confidential HIV testing services to the public, and comprehensive risk assessment, counselling and support services to individuals undergoing testing. Although the prevalence of HIV infection in Hong Kong remains at a low level, the proportion of late presenters has been as high as 40 to 60 per cent in recent years. There was an even higher proportion of late presenters, up to 60 to 70 per cent, among those who do not belong to the high-risk populations.Those who do not belong to the high-risk populations may have overlooked that they still have the risk of HIV infection even though they do not have frequent high-risk sexual practices, leading to delayed testing and treatment.

The DH launched the inaugural "HIV Testing Month" last year in December. Around 40 per cent of the participants who received testing through various activities during the "HIV Testing Month" last year did not belong to the high-risk populations, and about 40 per cent were tested for the first time. Eight persons were confirmed to have HIV infection, including two late presenters. The campaign not only successfully links people who are unaware of their infection status to receive timely diagnosis and treatment, but also promotes normalisation of HIV testing that helps remove the stigma associated with HIV infection and testing. The DH encourages people who have had sex to undergo HIV testing at least once, especially individuals who do not belong to the high-risk populations. The DH emphasised that early testing allows individuals with HIV to promptly receive specialist care, and through antiretroviral therapy to achieve viral suppression and immune recovery, thereby preventing health deterioration.

"The DH, in collaboration with 26 collaborating and supporting organisations, continue to organise 'HIV Testing Month' in December this year, with a view to promoting the message 'For your health, Get tested for HIV' to more stakeholders and bodies in the community, as well as providing an enabling environment for members of the public to undergo HIV testing easily and conveniently through a variety of channels and testing modalities. Members of the public could order HIV self-test kits on the HIV Testing Service website with free shipping during the 'HIV Testing Month'," said the Consultant (Special Preventive Programme) of the Public Health Services Branch of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Bonnie Wong.

She added that the AIDS hotline (2780 2211)under the DH was operated by professionally trained nurses, offering behavioural risk assessment, counselling and arrangement of HIV antibody test. Members of the public who received HIV testing from non-government channels could also call the hotline for enquiries about follow-up or counselling services. Operating for 40 years, the AIDS hotline has received over 1 500 000 calls, provided over 500 000 counselling services, and conducted nearly 70 000 HIV antibody tests. It also features pre-recorded information in multiple languages on HIV/AIDS and sexual health for diverse ethnic groups.

Members of the public can browse the HIV Testing Service website (www.hivtest.gov.hk) to access the HIV testing calendar to learn more about and select testing resources in the community.

Photo source: the HIV Testing Service website

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

A spokesman for the LD said today (March 3) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm that it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Source: AI-found images