June 27th is the National HIV Testing Day initiated by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). According to the statistics of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (TCDC), unprotected sex remains the primary risk factor contributing to domestic HIV infections. The Department of Public Health, Taoyuan (DOPH) would like to remind everyone that active screening for HIV allows early treatment and medication, which effectively reduces the morbidity and mortality rate of patients, improving their quality of life and lifespan, and reducing the chances of infecting others. The general public may visit the 13 district public health centers and 4 cooperating pharmacies to purchase test kits. People may also visit Mental G House (http://www.facebook.com/TYGhouse) and select “Convenience Store Pick Up” or “By mail” to receive screening tests at home. Test kits are also available on the HIV RAPID SELF-TESTING website of TCDC (https://hiva.cdc.gov.tw/Selftest/).
Deputy Director-general Su Po-Wen of Department of Public Health, Taoyuan (DOPH) mentioned that he had encountered a person who was absolutely sure that they were not in any way at risk of infection because they had only one regular sex partner. As a result, the person never underwent HIV screening. It was not until after person sought medical attention for a separate condition and was diagnosed with HIV that they realized they had been infected, nearly missing out the best period for treatment. Many people mistakenly equate “Normal Health Checkup Results” with “Not infected with HIV”, which is of course a misconception. In a joint research conducted by the NTUH College of Public Health and the Department of Public Health, Taoyuan, in 2019, an online questionnaire was given to 5,647 young men aged 15-39. About 70% of the respondents had not undergone any HIV screening. Among the respondents, 1,453 people said they had had sexual intercourse with someone other than their regular sex partner, and nearly half had had unprotected sex. The Department of Public Health, Taoyuan (DOPH) suggests that those engaging in sex should undergo at least one HIV screening test, regardless of gender. Those that continue to engage in unprotected sex should undergo at least one screening test every year; individuals who engage in behavior increasing the risk of infection (such as needle sharing, multiple sex partners, combined use of addictive drugs, and STDs), are recommended to undergo a screening test every three to six months.
Currently, self-administered test kits are available at Mental G House (http://www.facebook.com/TYGhouse) commissioned by 13 district public health centers, 4 cooperating pharmacies, and the Department of Public Health, Taoyuan. People can find out their health status by performing a test at home. In addition, people who complete the registration questionnaire will be given a TCDC self-administered test kit coupon and will be eligible to join a raffle draw. Those who purchase two boxes from the Mental G House (http://www.facebook.com/TYGhouse) before the end of August will receive one “Instant Screening Scratch Card”. In addition, free screening testing is available at 13 district public health centers, the MOHW Taoyuan General Hospital, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and the Mental G House (http://www.facebook.com/TYGhouse). For inquiries, feel free to call the toll-free 24-hour anti-pandemic hotline at 1992.