ENG-2012 — Page 188

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Health

In addition, for prevention of communicable diseases, the unit provided the public with updated information and health advice on infectious diseases through the media, webpages, promotional leaflets, posters, and telephone hotlines. It also produced health education materials in various languages, including leaflets, posters, handbooks and souvenirs to raise awareness of personal and environmental hygiene among ethnic minorities.

In addition, some 324 secondary schools, 91,000 students and 2,000 parents and teachers enrolled in the Adolescent Health Programme and received its services.

Oral Health Education

The DH's Oral Health Education Unit carries out various target-oriented educational activities to promote oral health, such as the 'Bright Smiles Mobile Classroom' for primary students. Information on oral health is also provided through the department's oral health education homepage (www.toothclub.gov.hk) and a 24-hour interactive telephone hotline. In October 2012, the DH launched the annual Love Teeth Campaign - 'Let's act for our teeth'- to encourage good dental habits.

AIDS Counselling and Education

The Government and NGOs collaborate in running Hong Kong's human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and health promotion programmes. The DH's 'Red Ribbon Centre' collaborates with its community partners to enhance public awareness and prevention of HIV and to promote caring and acceptance of HIV patients. In 2012, the centre organised 17 major activities and 75 special programmes, with some 81,000 participants. In 2012, 513 new cases of HIV infection were reported, compared with 438 cases in 2011.

Information on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and sexually transmitted infections is available on the DH's 24-hour multilingual AIDS hotlines:

AIDS Hotline (Cantonese, Putonghua and English)

AIDS Hotline (Tagalog, Vietnamese and Thai)

AIDS Hotline (Hindi, Indonesian, Nepali and Urdu)

2780 2211

2359 9112

2112 9980

Appointments for counselling and HIV antibody/rapid tests may be made on the hotline 2780 2211. In 2012, the hotline received a total of 29,209 calls, of which 17,335 calls sought AIDS counselling from nurse counsellors. About one million condoms were distributed to promote safer sex. There are also a Gay Men HIV Testing Hotline (2117 1069) and a website (www.21171069.com). In 2012, the Gay Men HIV Testing Hotline received a total of 391 calls for counselling and HIV antibody/rapid testing.

Organ Donation

The DH promotes organ donation in various ways (including a dedicated page on Facebook) together with the HA, healthcare professional bodies and voluntary organisations. As at the end of 2012, over 110,000 persons had registered at the Centralised Organ Donation Register, launched in 2008 for the general public to register their wish to donate their organs after death.

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