As the summer break is fast approaching, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) reminds young people the importance of safe sex while celebrating the vacation. If you have engaged in behaviors that may have put you at risk of becoming infected with HIV, please get tested for HIV for your own health and the health of your partner. Currently, a total of 41 hospitals in Taiwan (http://goo.gl/KTbC3X) provides anonymous HIV testing. Among them, 7 hospitals have launched an online appointment scheduling system. For information on these 7 hospitals, please visit the Anonymous Consultation website: http://hiva.cdc.gov.tw/, which will help you evaluate your risk of contracting HIV and link you directly to the online appointment scheduling system of any of the 7 hospitals without having to register or provide your personal information.

To improve the low HIV testing rate due to fear of stigma, discrimination and privacy violation, since 2013, Taiwan CDC has been collaborating with hospitals to conduct anonymous testing in order to provide free, simple and anonymous HIV testing. In addition, privacy is ensured through separating the testing location from the examination room at the hospital.

Previously, individuals wishing to get anonymous HIV testing, they usually just visit the hospital that offers the testing service or schedule an appointment with the hospital over the phone. To increase the uptake of and access to HIV testing, beginning this year, 7 hospitals in Taiwan, including Taoyuan General Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Chiayi Branch of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, E-Da Hospital, and Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, provide online appointment scheduling services. Moreover, to encourage other medical facilities to set up the online appointment scheduling system, Taiwan CDC is providing all medical facilities that launch the system with the system interface and relevant subsidies.

According to the statistics compiled by Taiwan CDC, as of the end of 2015, among the cumulative total of 31,036 Taiwanese HIV/AIDS cases, the rate of death for those who were diagnosed late is as high as 18%, which is 11.4 times higher than those who were diagnosed promptly. On the other hand, according to the analysis of the data collected during the recent 5 years, the rate of late diagnosis among cases identified through anonymous testing is 22%, which is lower than that identified through non-anonymous testing (35%).

Taiwan CDC once again reminds young people to pay attention to the importance of safe sex and take necessary precautions to prevent HIV infection while enjoying their vacation. To lower the risk of contracting HIV, Taiwan CDC advises using condoms and water-based lubricants throughout sex, and avoid practicing risky sexual behaviors such as attending house parties and sex parties or having multiple sex partners. HIV/AIDS can be managed like a chronic condition as long as the patient follows the doctor’s orders about the prescriptions, which is essential to a patient's survival and quality of life. If you are concerned that you may have acquired HIV and want to protect your privacy, please visit a hospital that offers anonymous HIV testing in order to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment.