Stop AIDS! Safer Sex!

World AIDS Day is commemorated around the globe on December 1 every year. The theme for this year is "accountability", under the broader slogan "Stop AIDS - Keep the Promise". All the United Nations member states have pledged to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals which include the goal to halt and reverse the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and AIDS.

In the campaign to stop the spread of HIV, as pointed out by the executive director of the World AIDS Campaign, "We don't lack the knowledge about how to do it, we lack action."

Globally about 40 million people are now infected with HIV. In Hong Kong, the number of people being infected with HIV continues to rise. Figures from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health showed that:

• Among the 96 people who were tested positive for the HIV antibody in the third quarter of 2004, 81 were men.
• Of the 96 new HIV cases reported, 60 acquired the infection via sexual contact.
• Of the 3100 cumulative total of HIV infections since 1984, around 76% acquired the infection through sexual contact.

With the frequent travelling by Hong Kong people to Mainland China, either for work or for leisure, the situation in Mainland China should also cause concern among us. Latest figures showed that half of the new HIV infections in Mainland China in 2005 were due to unprotected sex. And HIV prevalence in sex workers overall was estimated to be about 1% in 2004 and is still on the rise. Unprotected casual sex contacts, especially those with sex workers, would thus increase the risk of some men travelling to Mainland China of being infected with HIV.

Apart from HIV infections, unsafe sex is responsible for various types of diseases that are spread by having sex with an infected partner, such as syphilis, gonorrhoea and non-gonococcal urethritis. In 2005, there were more than 18 000 cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) diagnosed through the Social Hygiene Service of the Department of Health.

As said before, we do not lack the knowledge to prevent HIV infection and other STDs, the key is to put it into practice:

• Sensible sexual behaviour
  • Don't be promiscuous; maintain a monogamous and faithful sexual relationship with your partner
  • Good communication, mutual understanding and respect help maintain a close relationship, including a fulfilling sex life, thus reducing the urge to have casual sex contacts with others
  • Judging whether someone is "clean and safe" by the outlook is dangerous
  • Don't fool yourself - one time of unsafe sex is one time too many
• Condom for everyone
  • Properly using condom helps lower the risk of HIV infection and other STDs
  • Practise on the use of condom - practice makes experts
  • Don't be embarrassed - buying a condom is a responsible act
  • Condom - don't leave home without it

For further information on AIDS and safer sex, please visit the Men's Lifestyle and Men's Health Line sections on our website. Related information can also be obtained from the website of Virtual AIDS Office of Hong Kong of the Department of Health.

(Last Updated on 30-11-2006)