ENG-2006 — Page 208

172 | Health

In 2006, the annual Love Teeth Campaign took place in September, with the theme, 'It's not good enough to brush twice a day. Proper teeth cleaning technique is the way!' The campaign aims to help the public understand the correct concept and techniques of teeth cleaning.

AIDS Counselling and Education

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and health promotion programmes in Hong Kong are underpinned by the concerted efforts of the Government as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The Red Ribbon Centre of the Department of Health collaborates with a number of community partners to promote public awareness of HIV and acceptance of people living with HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In 2006, the centre organised 25 major activities and 127 focused programmes, benefiting around 70 000 participants.

Information on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, individual counselling and HIV antibody tests are offered to the public through the 24-hour, trilingual AIDS hotline, (852) 2780-2211. In 2006, the AIDS hotline received around 16 000 telephone calls. Over 1 million condoms were distributed to promote safer sex. A new AIDS Hotline (852) 2117-1069 and a new website www.21171069.com were launched to enhance the dissemination of AIDS prevention messages to men who have sex with men.

Organ Donation

The Department of Health joined hands with the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong Medical Association and some NGOs to actively promote organ donation both inside and outside hospital settings. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Medical Association, a territory-wide organ donation promotion campaign entitled "Light up lives. Support organ donation" was launched in December 2006.

Appeals were also made to various government departments, NGOs and private companies to solicit their support in making organ donation cards/forms readily accessible to their staff and clients, and actively encourage them to sign in. They were also requested to motivate their member/partner organisations to do the same. Other promotion activities include talks, seminars, exhibitions in hospitals, universities and shopping malls, and press conferences to arouse the public awareness of the needs of patients with end stage organ failure.

In 2006, there were 23 liver transplants, seven heart transplants, 53 renal transplants, one lung transplant and 213 cornea transplants conducted in the public hospitals of Hong Kong.

Smoking and Health

Legislation

To further protect the public from the hazards of second-hand smoking, the Government introduced the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2005 into the Legislative Council to expand statutory no-smoking areas to all indoor workplaces