On the eve of the 2010 World AIDS Day, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) held a special “Action For AIDS Party” at one of Taipei’s premiere nightclubs.Department of Health (DOH) Minister, Mr. Yaung Chih-liang, was on hand to promote AIDS awareness and educate the attending group of young clubbers about AIDS prevention. Minister Yaung highlighted the fact that AIDS infection rates among youngsters is climbing despite the overall success of Taiwan CDC AIDS prevention program.Among the young, AIDS-infected cohort, over 90% were infected as a result of unsafe sex, thus highlighting the need for increased education and awareness initiatives aimed at this demographic. The minister told the crowd that during their youth, they need to be aware of the real threat of AIDS.Mr. Yaung said that they must protect themselves and respect others through proper condom-use and AIDS screenings if they are to minimize this threat.
According to Taiwan CDC data, in October 2010, there were 19,735 people infected with the AIDS virus.Of these, 38.1% were 20 to 29 years of age (YOA) and 35.2% were 30-39 YOA.Despite the rising AIDS prevalence rate in Taiwan, there has been a decrease in AIDS mortality rates thanks to increased government spending on AIDS medical treatments.This increased spending, though, poses a serious financial challenge to the government. For every 10,000 AIDS patients requiring medical treatment—which is fully reimbursed by the government—expenditures amount to approximately NT$3.15 billion.The best solution to this ever-increasing AIDS problem and the most effective allocation of resources is early and sustained education about self-protection and safe-sex behavior.
The November 30th AIDS Party was hosted by Mr. Zhang Zhao-zhi.Earlier in the afternoon, Mr. Zhang received an AIDS screening at an area medical center.Also present was the 2010 AIDS Prevention Program spokesperson, Mr. Qian Jun-zhong.Mr. Qian reminded the attending youngsters of the importance of practicing safe-sex and receiving regular screenings to protect themselves and their loved ones.Taiwan CDC also invited, to the event, an AIDS patient who goes by the pseudonym “Ladybug”.Ladybug spoke about the twist and turns her life took after she was diagnosed with AIDS in 2005.In addition to thanking her friends, family and life-partner, Ladybug also spoke about how courage and optimism can help keep life normal and bright after being diagnosed with the virus.Ladybug mixed cocktails with the nightclub’s bartenders and spoke about the need for active and earnest support for AIDS patients.Enlightenment about AIDS, she said, is needed to overcome misconceptions that many people have about the virus and the way it is transmitted.Ladybug also called on all citizens of Taiwan to affirm their commitment to acknowledging and protecting the human rights, working rights and health rights of those infected with the AIDS virus.