Hong Kong AIDS Foundation and Gilead Science, Inc. has recently released the survey findings that around 50% of people living with HIV missed some or even all of their medical appointments in hospitals or clinics, due to the suspension of medical services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, around 40% of groups at higher risk conduct less HIV testing, so as to avoid being infected with COVID-19 when getting into medical centers. It may make them unsure whether they are HIV infected and delay them to receive the treatment.

Eris Lau, Chief Executive of the Foundation, believes the remote diagnosis and self-testing become more important than ever in light of the pandemic. Usually, there were 1,600-1,900 of service users for the Foundation’s voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT) service every year. During the pandemic, the number of VCT service user in March 2020 plunged 80% year-over-year (YoY), while there were 60% decrease in the number of VCT service user YoY. From July to September 2020, the number slightly increased, but it is still a drop of 45% YoY. Hence, Eris suggests the government shall provide more subsidy on the HIV Self-Testing Study from subsidizing currently 400 sets to 1,000 sets every year.

Still, the Foundation will place the emphasis on online counselling services and workshops, so as to help the service users break the barrier of social distance, and receive the Foundation’s services.

Read the media coverage to learn more (Chinese Version Only)：

  1. Apple Daily：調查發現5成受訪HIV病患者疫下減少或從未覆診 家居自驗計劃申請率升
    https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201130/BJW2VU3DUFH3DLFTZBHYZKJGYM/
  2. Oriental Daily News：疫下減到醫院愛滋檢測 高風險者易染HIV
    https://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20201201/00176_024.html
  3. on.cc：4成高風險者疫情下減少愛滋病病毒檢測　隨時染病而不自知
    https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20201130/bkn-20201130195658351-1130_00822_001.html
  4. Hong Kong Economic Times：4成HIV感染者 疫下減病毒量檢測
    https://paper.hket.com/article/2816558/4%E6%88%90HIV%E6%84%9F%E6%9F%93%E8%80%85%20%E7%96%AB%E4%B8%8B%E6%B8%9B%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E9%87%8F%E6%AA%A2%E6%B8%AC
  5. Hong Kong Commercial Daily：四成愛滋病人士疫下減檢測
    http://www.hkcd.com/content/2020-12/01/content_1232666.html
  6. am730：HIV感染者受疫情影響 五成減少覆診
    https://www.am730.com.hk/news/%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E/hiv%e6%84%9f%e6%9f%93%e8%80%85%e5%8f%97%e7%96%ab%e6%83%85%e5%bd%b1%e9%9f%bf-%e4%ba%94%e6%88%90%e6%b8%9b%e5%b0%91%e8%a6%86%e8%a8%ba-245616
  7. singtao.com：調查指本港4成HIV感染者 疫情下減少檢測
    https://std.stheadline.com/realtime/article/1437134/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82-%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E-%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%A5%E6%8C%87%E6%9C%AC%E6%B8%AF4%E6%88%90HIV%E6%84%9F%E6%9F%93%E8%80%85-%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E4%B8%8B%E6%B8%9B%E5%B0%91%E6%AA%A2%E6%B8%AC
  8. Headline Daily：調查指本港4成HIV感染者 疫情下減少檢測https://hd.stheadline.com/news/realtime/hk/1937134/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82-%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E-%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%A5%E6%8C%87%E6%9C%AC%E6%B8%AF4%E6%88%90HIV%E6%84%9F%E6%9F%93%E8%80%85-%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E4%B8%8B%E6%B8%9B%E5%B0%91%E6%AA%A2%E6%B8%AC
  9. Sing Tao Daily (Canada)：調查指本港4成HIV感染者 疫情下減少檢測
    https://www.singtao.ca/4636781/2020-11-30/news-%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%A5%E6%8C%87%E6%9C%AC%E6%B8%AF4%E6%88%90HIV%E6%84%9F%E6%9F%93%E8%80%85+%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E4%B8%8B%E6%B8%9B%E5%B0%91%E6%AA%A2%E6%B8%AC/?variant=zh-hk
  10. Economic Digest：HIV感染者受疫情影響 五成減少覆診
    https://www.edigest.hk/article/212184/%e7%86%b1%e8%a9%b1/hiv%e6%84%9f%e6%9f%93%e8%80%85%e5%8f%97%e7%96%ab%e6%83%85%e5%bd%b1%e9%9f%bf-%e4%ba%94%e6%88%90%e6%b8%9b%e5%b0%91%e8%a6%86%e8%a8%ba/
  11. Yahoo News：4成高風險者疫情下減少愛滋病病毒檢測 隨時染病而不自知
    https://hk.news.yahoo.com/4%E6%88%90%E9%AB%98%E9%A2%A8%E9%9A%AA%E8%80%85%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E4%B8%8B%E6%B8%9B%E5%B0%91%E6%84%9B%E6%BB%8B%E7%97%85%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E6%AA%A2%E6%B8%AC-%E9%9A%A8%E6%99%82%E6%9F%93%E7%97%85%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%8D%E8%87%AA%E7%9F%A5-115658023.html

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