The Health Bureau (SSM) recorded 293 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectees in the past 10 years, with 94 percent of them infected through sexual intercourse, according to an SSM statement yesterday.
Infections are more common through homosexual and bisexual contact, with a higher proportion among men, yesterday’s SSM statement noted, adding that other routes, such as blood contact or mother-to-child transmission, were “relatively less” frequent.
There is still no cure for AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), nor are there any vaccines to prevent the disease, the statement underlined, adding that the ABC principle (A = abstinence, B = being faithful, C = condom) was the still the only way to prevent infection.
According to the statement, “being faithful” represents an exclusive sexual partner, while “condom” appeals for the correct use of sheaths throughout sexual activity.
HIV is a very fragile virus which usually dies quickly within minutes of leaving the human body, so daily contact such as going to school together, working together, eating together and being bitten by mosquitoes will not cause transmission, the statement stressed.
Moreover, the statement said that the results of the monitoring and treatment of HIV cases in Macau are “satisfactory”, adding that since local residents are exempt from paying AIDS treatment expenses, Macau has “basically” achieved the objectives of the second and third “95” among the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) “three 95” target by 2030, i.e., 95 percent of HIV infectees are diagnosed, 95 percent of HIV patients receive treatment, and 95 percent of people undergoing treatment have their viral load suppressed.
The statement noted that the Health Bureau’s special HIV prevention services group at one of its health centres in Taipa, five non-profit medical institutions, including the Workers’ Clinic of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) and its branches, the Women’s General Association of Macau’s medical centre, the Macao New Chinese Youth Association’s Son Vo Medical Centre, and two non-governmental organisations, namely the Christian New Life Fellowship in Macau – Smart Youth and Macau AIDS Care Association, provided 15,565 free rapid HIV tests between the whole of 2018 and September this year.
In terms of the HIV self-test programme which was launched by the bureau in 2021, according to the statement, as of September this year 708 test kits had been sold, with almost half of buyers previously never having been tested for HIV.
Today marks the 35th World AIDS Day.
This undated handout photo provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday shows a nurse testing a male for HIV.
