THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
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LATEST STATISTICS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE TWO MAJOR MODES OF INFECTION BY THE AIDS VIRUS IN HONG KONG ARE BY THE USE OF UNTREATED IMPORTED FACTOR VIII AND BY THE SEXUAL ROUTE AND THAT CASUAL NON-SEXUAL CONTACT DOES NOT TRANSMIT THE VIRUS, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SAFER HEAT-TREATED FACTOR VIET AND MANDATORY BLOOD DONOR UNIT SCREENING IN HONG KONG, TRANSFUSION RELATED INFECTION BY THE AIDS VIRUS SHOULD BE CURTAILED, HE ADDED.
+THE GREATEST RISK OF THE SPREAD OF AIDS IN HONG KONG CURRENTLY IS BY SEXUAL TRANSMISSION. PREVENTION OF SEXUAL TRANSMISSION CAN BE ACHIEVED BY AVOIDING PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS. THE USE OF PHYSICAL BARRIERS LIKE CONDOMS AFFORD PROTECTION FROM INFECTION AND SHOULD BE USED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
INDIVIDUALS WHO FEAR THEY MAY HAVE CONTRACTED THE AIDS VIRUS CAN MAKE USE OF THE COUNSELLING SERVICE ON AIDS, A SPECIAL COUNSELLING CLINIC ESTABLISHED IN THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.
THE CLINIC IS MANNED BY A SENIOR HEALTH NURSE AND A PHYSICIAN, AND ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TELEPHONE NUMBER 3-7102553. ALL INFORMATION IS KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND CALLERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE THE IR NAMES. WHEN NECESSARY, BLOOD SCREENING TEST CAN BE CARRIED OUT FOR CALLERS IN THE CLINIC.
SO FAR, A TOTAL OF 3 226 CALLERS WERE RECEIVED BY THE CLINIC AND 310 BLOOD TESTS WERE CONDUCTED FOR CALLERS.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY SET UP A COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY ON AIDS IN A BID TO STRENGTHEN THE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY EFFORTS ON THE DISEASE.
IT IS FELT THAT SINCE THERE IS AT PRESENT NO EFFECTIVE CURE FOR AIDS, MORE EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON PREVENTION THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
THE COMMITTEE WILL FORMULATE STRATEGIES ON PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY AND WILL ALSO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT THE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMME.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT A NEW PUBLICITY PROGRAMME ON AIDS WILL BE LAUNCHED IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
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