Feature Articles

The Community Forum on AIDS – Mapping out policy strategies for the next 5 years

Ref Number: ESEAOR200611b

  • Date1 Nov 2006
  • Category FPA Message
  • TargetsN/A
  • AuthorFPAHK
  • Topic STIs & AIDS

The Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS (ACA) was established in 1990 by the Government to advise on AIDS policies and strategies for Hong Kong. Dr Susan Fan, Executive Director of FPAHK, has been a member of the Council since 2002. In January 2006, Dr Fan was appointed Convenor of a newly formed Community Forum on AIDS (CFA) to support the work of the Council. CFA has an expanded membership drawn from organizations delivering HIV/AIDS services, representatives of vulnerable groups, individuals with expertise in related fields and ACA members. Its main objective is to provide a platform whereby the views and expertise of organizations and individuals involved in HIV/AIDS advocacy, education and services can be directly shared and collected.

The immediate task facing ACA in 2006 was to map out Hong Kong’s AIDS strategies for the next 5 years, 2007-2011. CFA embarked on an exercise of assessment and evaluation by forming 7 working groups targeting specific sub-populations of men who have sex with men (MSM), injecting drug users (IDU), sex workers and clients, cross-border travelers, people living with HIV/AIDS, women and children, and youth. The Working Groups reviewed epidemiological data, evaluated current response, drew reference from overseas guidelines and drafted recommendations.

The 7 community assessment and evaluation reports were disseminated at the “Hong Kong AIDS Dialogue” on 16 September 2006 at the Public Health Laboratory Centre. The Conference was attended by over 260 participants from Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. The program comprised experience sharing by NGOs, report back from the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, and skills building workshop. Dr Susan Fan presented an outline of the community reports on the 7 vulnerable sub-populations. The feedback from participants was highly positive, with calls for the AIDS Dialogue to be held on a regular basis and encourage greater regional participation.

Based on the community assessment and evaluation, epidemiological trends and projections, opinion surveys and international developments, ACA will draw up Strategy Recommendations that will guide the work of AIDS prevention and control in Hong Kong in the next 5 years.