A nationwide art exhibition, which is free to the public, has been installed in four cities to mark World AIDS Day on Monday and promote HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said.
A large-scale installation based on the popular online cartoon character “Mei Mei” can be seen in the historic Bopiliao area in Taipei, the Calligraphy Plaza in Taichung, the National Science and Technology Museum in Kaohsiung and the historical walkway near Hualien Train Station, the CDC said.
Created by Internet-based illustrator Mr H.H, “Mei Mei” displays information about AIDS prevention and treatment, the agency said.
The CDC said the campaign coincides with the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day, which is to “close the gap between those who have access to information and those who do not.”
It said the nation is working to raise AIDS awareness and create friendlier public attitudes toward AIDS patients.
According to the CDC, a total of 20,477 people who are HIV-positive had sought treatment as of the end of August, representing 87.17 percent of those with HIV/AIDS.
In addition, 91.58 percent of newly discovered cases are treated within three months of diagnosis, and nearly 80 percent of those on medication return to hospitals and clinics for further treatment on a regular basis, it said.
However, the CDC said that the most worrying issue is the decrease in the age of those affected by HIV.
According to the latest CDC data, the number of AIDS patients aged between 15 and 30 rose from 795 in 2007 to 1,301 last year, while the average age of people infected with AIDS is 31.
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