National HIV Testing Day: Love, Test, and Win Prizes Campaign Launched
On June 27, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) pointed out that National HIV Testing Day, initiated by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) in the United States, aims to remind people who have engaged in sexual activity, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or race, to undergo HIV testing at least once. To encourage more individuals to utilize HIV self-testing and anonymous testing services, Taiwan CDC has launched the “Love, Test, and Win Prizes” campaign. People who complete HIV self-testing or anonymous testing and register anonymously between December 1, 2023, and November 30, 2024 are eligible for a prize draw. Participants who complete HIV self-testing or use the anonymous testing services twice or more during the above period are eligible to enter the “Regular Testing Bonus Draw” in September and December. This bonus draw offers 450 prizes, including iPhones, iPads, Bluetooth headphones, and Bluetooth speakers.
Taiwan CDC also pointed out that it continues its convenient, private, and rapid HIV self-testing program to encourage people to know their health status. As of the end of May this year, the program had served approximately 30,000 people. Individuals can order HIV self-test kits via Taiwan CDC’s HIV self-testing website (https://hiva.cdc.gov.tw/Selftest/) and choose to pick them up at nearby convenience stores (7-ELEVEN or FamilyMart) by paying a kit fee of NT$200 and a delivery fee of NT$45. Alternatively, people can obtain kits from partner community organizations, local health centers, or vending machines. After testing, individuals can follow the instructions on their test kit packages to upload photos of their test kit serial numbers, report their results, and register anonymously. After confirmation, individuals will receive a free electronic voucher for another test kit that can be used for another self-test or given to others. Individuals completing registration are eligible to enter prize draws.
Furthermore, Taiwan CDC collaborates with 85 healthcare facilities, local health departments, relevant NGOs, and LGBTQ+ health centers to provide free anonymous HIV testing and counseling services. They utilize the latest HIV antigen and antibody combination test kits, which can provide preliminary results in approximately 30 minutes on site. For information on locations for anonymous testing services, please visit Taiwan CDC’s website (https://gov.tw/kPc).
Taiwan CDC reminded the public that, as of May 2024, a total of 424 new confirmed HIV cases had been reported, with the main cause of these infections being unprotected sex. About 60% of the new cases were individuals aged 34 years and younger. Taiwan’s HIV prevention and control efforts achieved the 91-96-95 targets in 2023, nearing the UNAIDS 2030 targets of 95-95-95 (i.e., 95% of individuals living with HIV know their HIV status, 95% of infected individuals are on treatment, 95% of infected individuals on treatment have viral suppression). This shows significant progress in HIV prevention efforts through concerted action by all communities. However, this also indicates that approximately 9% of people living with HIV remain undiagnosed. Given the asymptomatic nature and long latency period of HIV infection, it is important to have regular HIV testing to know one’s own health status and to protect others.
Taiwan CDC emphasizes the proactive use of condoms and water-based lubricants during sexual activity to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Taiwan CDC urges people who have engaged in sexual activity to receive HIV testing at least once and advises people who have had unprotected sex to receive testing at least once a year. Those who have engaged in HIV risk behaviors (e.g., having an STD infection, having multiple sexual partners, using addictive drugs, or sharing needles, syringes, containers, or diluted solutions) or whose sexual partners meet any of the above-mentioned conditions are advised to receive testing every 3 to 6 months to understand their health status and to protect themselves and their loved ones.
https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Bulletin/Detail/jA4AyxhR0bMjLik_31KjhQ?typeid=158