April 2nd, 2012
Safe-sex Message Needs Reinforcing (SCMP editorial, 2012-03-20)
SAFE SEX NOW AND ALWAYS!
南華早報 2012-03-21 社論: 安全性行為訊息須加強
Safe-sex message needs reinforcing (SCMP editorial, 2012-03-20)
Despite a global decline in new HIV infections, Hong Kong had a record number last year of 438, more than a 12 per cent increase over the 389 in 2010. In public health terms, that is disappointing rather than alarming. HIV prevalence in the city remains low by international standards at less than 0.1 per cent, compared with the level of 1 per cent at which infection is deemed to be widespread.
Nonetheless, health authorities are concerned about the number of new cases among men having sex with men – the highest among all at-risk groups – a trend also found in other parts of Asia. This suggests complacency and the need to refresh and reinforce the safe-sex message.
At the same time, more gay men are presenting themselves for HIV testing, which is a good sign. Centre for Health Protection consultant Dr Wong Ka-hing said this helps explain the higher newinfection number, following declines in the previous two years. In the absence of a vaccine for HIVAids, early testing and diagnosis has emerged as the next best thing. Apart from the importance of early diagnosis and anti-retroviral drug therapy in halting the development of Aids and related lifethreatening illnesses, early testing is now credited with reining in the spread of the disease by alerting carriers and reducing the amount of virus in body fluids. A recent study by the UN Programme on HIV/Aids indicated that early treatment of HIV can reduce the risk of transmission by 96 per cent.
Internationally the challenge for the health authorities and HIV/Aids activists is to ensure the flow of billions of dollars in increased funding needed to expand access to drugs and for education to combat social factors that inhibit delivery of treatment. If Hong Kong is to stay beneath the world HIV/Aids radar, the authorities must stay on message about the effectiveness of condoms in ensuring safe sex, and the need for high-risk groups including drug users, sex workers and people with multiple sexual partners to have regular check-ups.
October 15th, 2011
Gay Radio Play Spreads HIV/AIDS Message (Apple Daily + Mingpao + Sing Tao Daily, 2011-10-06)
The title of the Apple Daily reads, “Young gay guys seek partners using mobile apps; younger people at risk HIV infection; groups call on young gay guys to take HIV tests”. Statistics given by AIDS Concern suggest that HIV infections “are getting younder”. Gay Radio has therefore recently adapted a novel by Yip Chi-wai to a radio play, in hopes of raising HIV/AIDS awareness among the younger generation. You can listen to the play (in Cantonese) at http://gayradio.hk/newnc/program.php?p=gd15.
手機app覓伴中招者趨年輕化呼籲同志測愛滋 (Apple Daily, 6/10/2011)
【本報訊】阿朗，與男同學多次無套肛交，戰戰兢兢接受愛滋測試；琛哥，在同志桑拿尋歡後染上梅毒，惆悵如何向妻子開口；阿翔，遇上很Man的對象就「暈浪」不戴套，最後染上愛滋病毒。同志小說《10/1315》，記述10個愛滋及性病測試個案背後的真實故事，網台Gay Radio把小說改編成廣播劇，向年輕同志宣揚：定期接受測試，才是愛伴侶、愛自己的表現。記者：白琳
團體「關懷愛滋」發現，愛滋病毒感染有年輕化趨勢。05年以前，透過該團體測試確診的25歲以下感染個案，每年僅0至1人。但由06年至今，每年確診個案增至2至4人。關懷愛滋09及10年分別為約1,000人提供愛滋病毒及性病驗血測試，25歲以下佔逾200人。
心態：唔知就當冇
《10/1315》作者葉志偉表示，此書描述個案與關懷愛滋義工等待測試結果時，對愛與性態度的反思，「呢15分鐘，佢哋感覺被關心」。本港第一代同志屬於活在「地下」的60後；70後的葉志偉自稱第二代同志，在同性戀非刑事化後「出櫃」，當時同志桑拿及酒吧盛行。第三代泛指80、90後，近年由網上交友改成同志專用的iPhone程式，「佢哋網上識人都嫌慢，開個app一睇，就見到乜嘢人喺附近」。
葉志偉不諱言年輕同志對愛滋病的警覺性較低，不懂拒絕無套肛交，少數缺乏如何使用安全套等性知識，「以前有愛滋病要瞓醫院、一定會死，所以上一代好謹慎。家知道有雞尾酒療法，冇以前咁驚。最後生嘅13、14歲就出嚟玩」。
同志普遍懼怕一旦確診不知如何向伴侶交代，對愛滋測試的心態是「預咗中招，唔知就當冇」。
關懷愛滋預防項目主任李俊昊是該團體首批測試個案。他從前習慣無套肛交，心慌就測試，沒事就繼續不用套，惡性循環直至他染上輕微性病才結束。他經常在同志眾會介紹測試，很多朋友漸漸接受。他叮囑沒固定性伴侶的同志，每隔三個月接受測試，有「keep人」（固定伴侶）的每六至九個月才需要測試。
廣播劇逢周四播出
Gay Radio每個月有六至七萬聽眾，大多20至30歲。上述廣播劇名為《3月15分》，今天起逢星期四播出。
驗出性病醒覺變愛滋義工 演廣播劇推廣安全性行為 (Mingpao, 6/10/2011)
社工「日哦夜哦」、宣傳歌日播夜播叫人注意安全性行為，都不及一次切膚之痛有效。同性戀者李俊昊在一次愛滋病測試中染出感染性病，令以往堅拒用安全套的他變成次次戴套，他慶幸沒有感染愛滋病，經此一役，更令他成為關懷愛滋義工，今日他會在GayRadio 廣播劇《3 月15日》中演出，推廣安全性行為。
明報記者余卓善
以往忽視安全性行為
45 歲的李俊昊過往經常有不安全性行為，2000 年關懷愛滋首度推出免費愛滋病測試，他第一時間參加，之後堅持定期做測試、接受社工輔導。「不是短時間可以改善，我都用了3 年多，每次擔心就做test、做完又玩過，之後又擔心……」直至有一次他被驗出患有淋病，「這次驗出衣原體（淋病）是幸運，但下次呢？」之後他加入關懷愛滋做義工，前年更擔任預防項目主任，全職推廣安全性行為。
免費愛滋測試只需15 分鐘
關懷愛滋免費提供愛滋病病毒抗體快速測試及性病測試，至今已為約5000 人提供服務。李俊昊說，測試過程雖然只是15 分鐘，但對於擔心自己會有愛滋病的人來說卻度「分」如年。他說，測試員會為接受測試者提供輔導，因與別人討論愛滋病話題始終有點尷尬，故經常來做測試的人常把輔導員當成傾訴對象，甚至發展成摯友。
根據衛生署統計數字，截至今年6月，香港共有5036 人感染愛滋病病毒（HIV），過去5 年每年都有逾60 人感染愛滋病（AIDS），當中以男女性接觸受感染比例最高，佔38%。同性戀作家葉志偉說，數字只是冷冰冰的，於是決定親自採訪11 名快速測試使用者，發現「他們最擔心的不是自己有AIDS，而是伴侶會受感染」。
葉志偉後來以關懷愛滋社工第一身出發，將採訪所得結集成書《10/1315》。
GayRadio 最近將《10/1315》改編成廣播劇《3 月15 日》。導演Danny 說： 「不少演員讀完劇本後都立即去做test！」他希望用有血有肉的故事感動聽眾，呼籲更多人主動做測試。廣播劇今日開始，逢周四在 gayradio.hk 開播。
廣播劇宣傳安全性行為 (Sing Tao Daily, 6/10/2011)
本港逾七成感驗愛滋病的患者經由性接觸傳染，今年上半年經由男男性接觸感染病毒的人數更佔三成八。作家葉志偉表示，同性戀者對愛滋病仍充滿無知與恐懼，因此出書鼓勵同志注重安全性行為，並定期檢驗愛滋病。而一個網上電台亦透過廣播劇，提醒注重安全性行為。
感染愛滋人數上升
葉志偉四年前出版《10/1315》，透過描繪十個同志的真實故事、對性和愛滋病的態度，提醒同志重視安全性行為。他表示，近十年因男男性接觸而感染愛滋病病毒的人數比例由三成上升至三成八，他鼓勵同志性行為時要注重安全，亦要定期檢驗愛滋病。
他的小說，最近獲網上電台GayRadio改編成廣播劇《3月15分》，今天起連續八個星期四，於網上播放。李俊昊是其中一個故事的主角，他表示，自己以前不會做任何安全措施，後來接觸到「關懷愛滋」，才改變態度。
籲同志定期檢測
他指有一次檢測愛滋病病毒時，驗得尿道炎，令他恍然大悟：「如果不幸是愛滋病，那就很嚴重了。」自此他每次性交時都會用安全套。
李俊昊鼓勵身邊同志朋友定期驗愛滋，三年前他加入「關懷愛滋」當義工，甚至成為職員，他指同志對愛滋病依然十分忌諱，怕驗得有愛滋病，不少有如下心態：「如果可能驗得有愛滋，我不驗就沒有了。」他希望同志可以定期檢測愛滋病，保護自己。記者黃栩源
July 29th, 2011
WHO’s MSM Guidelines
Dear Colleagues,
WHO launched yesterday the “MSM guidelines”, i.e. the document “Prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men and transgender people: Recommendations for a public health approach”. Attached are the guidelines and annexes, along with the WHO press release and background document that was provided to the Media at yesterday’s press conference.
You can find the guidelines at the WHO website. http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/guidelines/msm_guidelines2011/en/index.html)
We hope the guidelines will be helpful for your work and we shall appreciate your feedback.
Please share this guiding document widely to HIV/STI partners and male health concerned groups in your countries, regions and beyond.
Thank you and best regards,
Pengfei
_______
Dr Zhao Pengfei, MD, MPH, MSc
Technical Officer, HIV prevention
WPRO/WHO
P.O. Box 2932, 1000 UN Avenue, Manila
Email: zhaop@wpro.who.int
Tel: +632 528 9718
Fax: +632 521 1036
Mobile: +639219755179
GPN: 89718
July 29th, 2011
Report on Global Commission – HIV and the Law
From: Clifton Cortez
Date: July 25, 2011 2:47:36 PM GMT+07:00
Subject: REPORT of the Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law
Dear friends and colleagues,
On behalf of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law and UNDP, I would like to inform you of the Report of the Asia-Pacific Regional Dialogue of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law last February. The participants, civil society members who made submissions, government representatives, observers and Regional Advisory Group members combined their experiences and expertise for a rich dialogue that will help define the final recommendations of the Global Commission to be released in December 2011, and ensure that the legal environment promotes and protects the rights and interests of people living with HIV and those most vulnerable.
Over 120 Submissions were sent to the Commission Secretariat from the Asia-Pacific Region. This diverse collection of experiences demonstrated how the law actually both impedes and promotes national AIDS responses. The contributions and debates held during the regional dialogue were constructive throughout, and the cooperation between civil society and government representatives left the commissioners with the impression that much more can be done to ensure that the best possible HIV-related laws and practices are in place to promote rights-based responses.
To download the Report of the Asia Pacific Regional Dialogue of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law please visit:
Also available are the four Regional Issues Briefs and the Dialogue Video:
- Laws and practices relating to criminalization of people living with HIV and populations vulnerable to HIV
- Intellectual property rights and access to medicines
- Rights of women and girls
- Rights of children and young people to access HIV-related services
Following the Asia Pacific Regional Dialogue in Bangkok, important partnerships were built with regional and national level partners. At the national level, UNDP and UNAIDS offices in the Philippines, the Pacific and Vietnam are engaging national and community partners to address key issues relating to HIV and the law. Last month, UNDP supported Papua New Guinea to host a national dialogue among government bodies, communities and faith based organizations on HIV and the law in Parliament. And, in Nepal, UNDP released the film “Out of the Closet: Nepal Constitutional Reforms for Sexual Minorities” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy5_eAfui5g).
Regionally, the UN system is expanding its support of regional community-based advocacy groups and multi-lateral policy bodies to produce the needed evidence and advocate increased access to affordable medicines and rights-based preventions and care services.
Finally, in early November, UNDP will update national governments on the progress of the Global Commission at the ESCAP Asia-Pacific High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Assessment of Progress Against Commitments in the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For your reference, I have attached the recent ESCAP Resolution 67/9: Asia-Pacific regional review of the progress achieved realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS.
Best regards,
Clif
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Additional information on the Global Commission and the Asia Pacific Regional Dialogue:
Summary of E-Discussion: HIV, Gender and the Law can be downloaded: http://asia-pacific.undp.org/practices/hivaids/documents/HIVAPCoP_Report_HIVandLaw_web.pdf.
To follow the work of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law please visit: http://www.hivlawcommission.org.
And, finally, the moderator, Nisha Pillai wrote about the Regional Dialogue on her blog: www.nishapillai.com/blog.
April 1st, 2011
MSM Initiative Community Awards – Asia and the Pacific
MSM Initiative Community Awards – Asia and the Pacific
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is pleased to announce new funding for innovative projects that address HIV/AIDS among gay men, other men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender individuals in the Asia-Pacific region. Grassroots organizations led by or closely linked to MSM/LGBT communities in low- and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region are encouraged to submit relevant proposals. Funds for this round of awards are made available through the generous support of the ViiV Healthcare Positive Action and Aids Fonds.
Application Deadline: 4 May 2011, 5:00 p.m. in New York City, USA (GMT/UTC 21:00)
Visit www.amfAR.org/grants for forms, instructions and detailed information about this opportunity.
Available Funding:
Each organization may apply for an award of up to $20,000USD to support project-related costs for up to 12 months. Only one application may be submitted per organization. Proposals for general operating support will not be considered.
Areas of Interest:
This request for proposals (RFP) solicits proposals for innovative HIV/AIDS-related, community-led projects that address HIV/AIDS among gay men, other MSM and/or transgender individuals. Visit www.amfAR.org/grants for detailed information.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Community-based organizations closely linked to MSM/LGBT communities located in low-and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region with annual budgets less than $1 million (USD).
Spread the Word! Please forward this announcement to anyone you know who may be interested in this opportunity.
For more information about the MSM Initiative visitwww.amfAR.org/msm.
