AIDS Concern’s HIV Conference 2018 Finding the Options: Taking HIV Out of Hong Kong was successfully held on Jan 26-27, 2018. We were honoured to have Dr. Chui Tak-Yi, the Under Secretary for Food and Health, as our Guest of Honour, and also the 15 international and local speakers from Australia, Thailand, Philippines, China and Taiwan to share their expertise with us. We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who participated, our sponsors, speakers, and volunteers. Without your support, the conference would not have been possible.
With the annual number of new HIV infections in Hong Kong hitting a historic high, AIDS Concern urges all parties to consider new means of curbing the HIV epidemic. The overall goal of the conference was to look at how to use innovation to cut HIV infection rates in Hong Kong. In achieving this goal, we discussed how other places are dealing with HIV/AIDS, and considered the role of new prevention methods. We also looked at new medical findings, and listened to inspiring conversations among stakeholders, decision-makers, community members and scholars.
Purpose: To promote the reduction of HIV infection rates in Hong Kong, the ultimate goal is to stop new HIV infections.
The conference covered topics including:
- Undetectable=Untransmittable
- HIV self-testing kits
- Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Recreational drug use and HIV
Dr. CHUI Tayk-yi, JP, Under Secretary for Food and Health Bureau presenting the opening speech
The community actively participated in the discussion session
AIDS Concern’s HIV Conference 2018 Taking HIV Out of Hong Kong
(left to right) Mr. Andrew Chidgey, Chief Executive of AIDS Concern; guest speakers Dr. Benjamin R. Bavinton and Ms. Karen Price
(Left to right) Mr. Samson Yip Wing Yue, Dr. Sky Lau Hoi-leung and Dr. Nason Tan responding to questions from the participants during panel discussion
The community actively participated in the discussion session
Introduction
On average, there are 2 new HIV infections in Hong Kong per day. Developed cities such as San Francisco, London and Sydney are showing declines in HIV infection rates. In light of their success in controlling the epidemic, AIDS Concern believes that we can do the same in Hong Kong. To gain insight into controlling the epidemic, AIDS Concern held a two-day HIV conference, which centered on recent innovations in HIV prevention and care.
Currently, Hong Kong’s HIV prevention strategy relies heavily upon encouraging clinical testing and condom distribution. Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is not available in the public healthcare system, and can only be acquired at private clinics at a high retail price. Non-occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (nPEP) can be obtained in public hospitals, but only under rare circumstances. While self-testing kits are available through a local pharmacy, NGOs and the internet, their availability not widely understood by the public and many kits are not those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, regulatory control and governmental guidance to monitor the quality and accuracy of such self-testing kits are absent.
Achievement
At the conference, it was agreed that more options are needed in Hong Kong to deal with the rising and ever-changing landscape of the HIV epidemic.
Interventions such as PrEP and HIV self-testing should be implemented, in order to increase testing rates and drive down infection rates. Such intervention strategies can also help Hong Kong reach the 90-90-90 target (90% of infections diagnosed, 90% of people on treatment and 90% with suppressed viral load). The Undetectable=Untransmittable statement is an important message backed by scientific evidence. Efforts are called for to use it to empower people living with HIV. Sensitivity, care and understanding are needed in dealing with Chemfun (drug use and sex), a trending culture among some of the MSM community which plays a role in HIV infections.
AIDS Concern has put together a conference report that documents the key findings from each speaker’s presentation, selected conversation from the panel discussions, interactive dialogue among community members, and the recommended actions.
AIDS Concern will be holding workgroup meetings to follow up the actions suggested by the community. AIDS Concern will also engage different stakeholders and policy makers to drive progress in introducing new HIV prevention interventions into our city. We will continue our community education work to empower community members, and to develop momentum at the community level.
Together, we will take HIV out of Hong Kong.