In honor of National HIV Testing Day, the Taiwan AIDS Foundation released the results of a public opinion survey indicating 40% of people do not know where they can obtain HIV screening. The CDC and Health Ministry took the opportunity to remind the public that all sexually active persons should get tested for HIV.
According to the CDC, 424 new cases of HIV infection have been reported as of May 2024, mainly due to unprotected sexual intercourse, and about 60% of these cases were under 34 years of age. The total number of people infected with HIV in Taiwan has reached 44,683.
The CDC shares that HIV self-testing reagents can be ordered through the CDC’s official website and picked up at the nearest convenience store. They can also be obtained through local health bureaus, community health centers, and partnering NGOs. The CDC also cooperates with 85 establishments to provide HIV/AIDS health education consultation and anonymous screening services. These services can produce preliminary screening results in 30 minutes.
The CDC recommends that anyone who is sexually active should be screened for HIV at least once and that those who have unprotected sex should be screened annually. Persons who have multiple sexual partners or come into contact with used needles should get tested every 3-6 months.