To mark World AIDS Day 2014, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) kicked-off a three-week AIDS prevention exhibition titled “Close the Gap” in Bopiliao, Wanghua District on Saturday, November 22. For this year’s event, Taiwan CDC collaborated with the well-known Internet-based illustrator, Mr. H.H, to create a large-scale installation based on the popular cartoon character “Mei Mei” in promotion of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Apart from Bopiliao in Taipei, the artwork was also displayed at the Taichung Calligraphy Plaza, the National Science and Technology Museum in Kaohsiung and along the old railroad in Hualien, which is now a walkway with shops on the side, to promote not only HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, but also greater compassion for people living with HIV/AIDS.
AIDS is a disease that can be prevented and treated, but the biggest challenge lies in early intervention, Taiwan CDC Director-General Kuo Hsu-sung said. The theme set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for this year’s World AIDS Day is “closing the gap in HIV prevention and treatment”, aiming to decrease the access gap in terms of prevention, treatment and care in order to better ensure that people have equal access to the services they need.
Taiwan has seen significant improvements in terms of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. As of August 2014, a total of 20,477 HIV-positive people sought treatment, representing 87.17 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS in Taiwan, while 91.58 percent of newly discovered cases were treated within three months upon discovery; nearly 80 percent of those on medication returned to hospitals and clinics for further treatment on a regular basis, indicating the successful outcomes of one year of treatment. These instances clearly coincide with the goal of “closing the gap."
According to the Taiwan CDC’s statistics, up until the end of October, 1,896 people were newly infected with HIV, which equals to an average of six new infections per day. In Taiwan, a total of 28,371 people have HIV/AIDS, 24 percent of whom fall between the ages of 25 and 29, indicating that there has been a decrease in age in terms of new HIV infection. To counter the trend, Taiwan CDC said that it will continue to work with Cabinet-level ministries and councils, local government health authorities and NGOs to promote better understanding of HIV/AIDS among younger populations.
Mr. H.H said that a lot of young people are open-minded and that both young men and young women need to understand HIV/AIDS. Ensuring safe sex is a mark of responsibility, just as Mei Mei is a strong and responsible optimist who enjoys life and understands the importance of protecting herself, the illustrator explained. Mr. H.H said that by relying on Mei Mei’s unique image and through humor, he hopes that young adults can gain a better understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
This year, Taiwan CDC also invited the well-known blogger “arsablue”, who is also known as “Stanley”, to star in an interactive video promoting safe sex; for example, the importance of using condoms, using water-based personal lubricants as well as taking AIDS tests. As part of the interactive video, the public can participate in a lottery to win prizes priced at NT$500 and above.