In order to raise public awareness of HIV prevention and promote safer sexual practices, the Health Bureau (SSM) will host a World AIDS Day thematic event on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Tap Seac Health Centre, providing free, anonymous and rapid antibody testing for both HIV and Hepatitis C, requiring only a small finger-prick blood sample, according to an SSM statement on Tuesday.
World AIDS Day takes place on December 1 every year, and this year’s global day is themed “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”
The statement noted that participants can obtain a queue number on-site to join and will receive a small gift upon completion. The activity targets Macau residents aged 18 or older who are unaware of their infection status.
The statement noted that SSM officials will conduct flash-mob interactive booth games near the Tap Seac Health Centre, with participants eligible for small gifts. Further details are available on the Health Bureau’s AIDS Care website “World AIDS Day” section at www.ssm.gov.mo/aidsday.
The Health Bureau recommended that individuals who have never been tested for HIV undergo at least one test to understand their status, even in the absence of known risk behaviours, according to the statement, which underlined that individuals with ongoing risk factors should be tested at least annually, such as: 1) male-to-male sexual contact; 2) intravenous drug use; 3) unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse; 4) having multiple sexual partners; 5) having an HIV-positive sexual partner; and 6) engaging in transactional sex involving money or drugs.
The statement added that the Health Bureau continues to collaborate widely with local communities to enhance synergies in HIV prevention and provide free rapid HIV testing services through local medical clinics and associations, namely the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM – commonly known as Gung Luen), the Women’ s General Association of Macau (commonly known as Fu Luen), Macao New Chinese Youth Association (MNCYA), Macao AIDS Care Association and the Macau Christian New Life Fellowship-Smart Youth. For those unable to visit service points in person, self-testing kits are available for online purchase.
More information can be found on the Health Bureau’s HIV Rapid Test webpage at www.ssm.gov.mo/hivtest.
This handout poster provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) on Tuesday shows a World AIDS Day thematic event “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response” at Tap Seac Health Centre on Sunday.
