XN000022-1993-03-20 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1993

VITAL ROLE FOR WOMEN IN FIGHT AGAINST AIDS

WOMEN

CAN HAVE A STRONG INFLUENCE ON THE ATTITUDE OF SOCIETY TOWARDS AIDS PATIENTS AND IN PROMOTING WAYS TO PREVENT THE DISEASE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.

"THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS IS EVEN MORE CRUCIAL WHEN WE THINK OF A WOMAN'S ROLE IN THE FAMILY WHICH IS THE BASIC UNIT OF CARING IN OUR SOCIETY,

H SHE ADDED.

SPEAKING AT THE "WOMEN AND AIDS" SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG AIDS FOUNDATION AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN TODAY (SATURDAY), MRS WONG SAID AIDS AFFLICTED PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUFFERING ON THE INDIVIDUAL.

"MORE THAN THAT, THE PAIN IS OFTEN FELT BY THE ENTIRE FAMILY: NOT LEAST THE BURDEN OF A CHRONICALLY ILL FAMILY MEMBER AND THE TRAUMA OF DISCRIMINATION AND ALIENATION.

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'AIDS IS A CHALLENGE TO THE INTEGRITY OF A FAMILY. IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THE SUFFERING FOR THE MOTHER IN PARTICULAR. **

MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT PATIENTS WHO HAD AN INTACT FAMILY AND WHO WERE WELL BACKED BY OTHER MEMBERS, WERE OFTEN BETTER ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS OF THE DISEASE.

"THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MOTHER IS PARAMOUNT, SHE STRESSED, ADDING THAT A GOOD AIDS EDUCATION PROGRAMMB SHOULD START IN THE FAMILY BECAUSE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS LEARN AS THEY GROW AND THIS LEARNING PROCESS IS INITIATED IN THE FAMILY AND CONSOLIDATED IN SCHOOLS.

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QUOTING A RECENT SURVEY, MRS WONG SAID OVER 90 PER CENT OF RESPONDENTS INDICATED THEY HAD VIEWED AIDS ADVERTISEMENTS TELEVISION AND OVER 70 PER CENT REMARKED THAT THEIR AIDS KNOWLEDGE HAD IMPROVED AS A RESULT.

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"THIS IS A GOOD START, SHE SAID, "PUBLICITY THROUGH THE MEDIA SHOULD PROVIDE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FAMILY TO TALK ABOUT AIDS, AND FOR PARENTS TO IMPRESS UPON CHILDREN THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR, AS THEY RELATE TO THE DISEASE.'

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THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE ALSO NOTED THAT EIGHT CASES OF HIV INFECTED WOMEN WERE REPORTED LAST YEAR, COMPARED WITH 10 KNOWN CASES FROM 1985 TO 1991.

"THIS IS A WORRYING TREND, AND EVEN MORE FRIGHTENING TO THINK THAT WIVES ARE BEING INFECTED THROUGH THEIR HUSBANDS," SHE SAID.

THE MAIN SOURCES OF INFECTION WERE THROUGH SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, TRANSFUSION OF CONTAMINATED BLOOD OR BLOOD PRODUCTS, SHARING NEEDLES FOR DRUG INJECTION AND PERINATALLY FROM AN INFECTED MOTHER TO HER OFFSPRING.

/BUT SHE