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Important global outbreak alert by CECC
Taiwan CDC joins hands with Taipei 101 in observing World AIDS Day 2024 to launch “Love Removes Barriers for Health and Equality for All” Campaign
In observance of the theme of World AIDS Day 2024 “Take the Rights Path” initiated by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) jointly held a campaign titled “Love Removes Barriers for Health and Equality for All” with Taipei 101 on November 29. This event was attended by Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chou Jih-Haw (周志浩), Taipei 101 President Lillian Chu, National Taiwan University Executive Vice President Chang Shan-Chwen, members of the Committee for HIV Infection Control and Patient Rights Protection, representatives of relevant HIV civil organizations, representatives of the Federation of Public Health Students Associations in Taiwan (FPHSA-Taiwan), Taiwan CDC Director-General Chuang Jen-Hsiang, and Taiwan CDC Deputy Director-General Lo Yi-Chun. These participants called for fair and equal treatment and access to health education, screening, care, and prevention resources for all and an end to discrimination in order to create a friendly environment for everyone, regardless of whether they are living with HIV or belong to a key population. As part of the campaign, the Chinese version of the campaign title was displayed on the Taipei 101 building to serve as a symbol of support for HIV prevention as well as health and equality.
Deputy Minister Chou said that Taiwan’s concerted efforts have led to significant progress in HIV prevention. In 2023, Taiwan achieved the HIV prevention targets of "91-96-95." This means that 91% of individuals living with HIV know their HIV status; 96% of people living with HIV/AIDS are on treatment; and 95% of those on treatment have a suppressed viral load, demonstrating that Taiwan’s results have exceeded the global average of 86-89-93. Looking ahead, Taiwan will continue to implement various measures, including working with all communities to promote health education and prevention efforts, expanding different HIV screening channels, promoting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), implementing the immediate medication after diagnosis strategy, and improving the quality of care. To reduce stigma and discrimination and to encourage individuals living with HIV to seek testing and treatment without fear, Taiwan will also continue to raise awareness of “U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable). ”
For this year’s event, Taiwan CDC also invited students from the FPSHA-Taiwan to perform the HIV charity song “As Usual.” The song was jointly written by hundreds of medical and public health students in Taiwan to promote the “U=U” concept. Through music, these students hope to eliminate the public’s misunderstandings about HIV and to achieve health and equality for all.
Taiwan CDC reminds the public that, despite Taiwan’s progress in HIV prevention, around 9% of people living with HIV still don’t know their HIV status. To encourage the public to perform HIV testing, from November 29 to December 31, 2024, Taiwan CDC is offering a free-shipping service for HIV self-test kits. During this period, members of the public purchasing HIV self-test kits online will receive their orders without the NT$45 shipping fee. This year, Taiwan CDC has partnered with 18 HIV-designated hospitals to implement a plan to create an HIV-friendly environment for receiving care. The plan aims to ensure equal access to healthcare and equal rights for all and to achieve the UNAIDS’ goals of “95-95-95”and three zeros (zero new infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths) to work toward ending the HIV epidemic.