Letters | Hong Kong should normalise HIV tests in fight against Aids

Readers discuss the need for a range of Aids prevention strategies, equal access to healthcare, promising signs for local cinema, and an aquarium’s unorthodox attempt to cut costs

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A member of the Hong Kong Aids Foundation holds red ribbons in their hands to commemorate World Aids Day, in Central, on December 1, 2010. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:30am, 1 Dec 2024

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This year’s World Aids Day is significant for Hong Kong, as it marks 40 years since the city confirmed its first case of HIV. Despite a declining infection rate, there is a worrying trend in the number of late presenters – people who are diagnosed with HIV at an advanced stage of illness. A survey conducted in October found that about 75 per cent of young Hongkongers who are sexually active have never taken an HIV test.

If we are serious about achieving the UNAids goal of eliminating HIV as a public health threat by 2030, we must make significant investments in HIV prevention and education.

The increase in late presenters could be attributed to the disease’s stigma. There are still people in our society who believe HIV is a “gay disease”. Such homophobic attitudes can prevent people from getting tested or following safer guidelines to protect themselves and their partners.

In addition, we must not hesitate to use all available tools in the fight against HIV. For example, when taken as directed, PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is extremely effective at preventing HIV. Unlike Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, Hong Kong lacks an affordable PrEP programme.

Forty years is a long time and we’ve come a long way since the virus’s early death toll. However, society’s interest in and support for HIV prevention is clearly waning. We must not allow complacency to set in. If we do not make the necessary investments, we will not meet UNAid’s 2030 goal. We must intensify our efforts to combat HIV.