Hong Kong Should Initiate More Voluntary Checks To Bring Down AIDS: Health Experts

The Society for Aids Care, an AIDS concern group urged that Hong Kong should introduce wider voluntary checks for HIV. Only one in eight of those carrying the virus came forward for a test. A recent survey found that 12% of carriers //actively sought a test for the virus. The society interviewed 162 HIV carriers and AIDS patients in March and April 2015.

“The survey result showed that most people had a weak understanding of HIV infection. Delay in diagnosis and treatment increase the risk of serious complications at later stages,” said Alice Chan Lai-hing, Chief executive officer, Society for Aids Care.

Dr Owen Tsang Tak-yin, representative of the Hong Kong Society for Infectious Diseases, said that HIV symptoms could be alleviated with drugs. He said treatment for HIV had become more convenient. While patients needed to take up to 20 pills a day in the mid-1990s, now they only have to take one pill a day to control the condition.

“The level of HIV can be reduced 99% after taking treatment for four to eight weeks. Within six months to one year, the HIV level can even go undetected,” said Tsang.

Source-Medindia