A Taipei Metro train has been decorated to spread awareness about HIV, aiming to reduce fear, stigma and discrimination surrounding the virus by telling passengers that it is untransmittable when treated.
The themed train was launched by the Taiwan AIDS Society and Persons with HIV/AIDS Rights Advocacy Association of Taiwan (PRAATW), which hosted a news conference today to introduce the project.
Overlapping with World AIDS Day on Monday next week, the train began running on Monday and would continue until Dec. 23.
Photo: CNA
Messages on the train are centered around the international consensus that undetectable equals untransmittable, or “U=U,” meaning people with HIV who have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus, the group said.
Ever since the first AIDS cases appeared in Taiwan, society has discriminated against those with the condition, Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said at the news conference.
This makes people at risk afraid to get tested and unable to receive proper treatment, Lin said.
For those with HIV who receive treatment, regularly taking medication is enough to suppress the viral load and prevent transmission, he added.
Countries around the world are succeeding at keeping the viral load undetectable among those receiving treatment by an average of 94 percent, he said.
It is crucial to eliminate stigma around the virus so that those at risk feel comfortable getting tested, he said.
This would help society reach the “three zeros” goal, meaning zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths, he added.
U=U is not merely a slogan — it is a fact recognized by the global medical community, Taiwan AIDS Society secretary-general Lin Kuan-yin (林冠吟) said.
As long as an HIV-positive person takes medication regularly and maintains an undetectable viral load for at least six months, they are no longer capable of transmitting the disease, Lin Kuan-yin said.
The themed train informs people that the virus cannot be transmitted by contact, saliva or sweat, aiming to make them less afraid of those with HIV or AIDS, she said.
PRAATW secretary-general Lin Yi-hui (林宜慧) said that many HIV-positive people are afraid to reveal their status due to social prejudice and may face enormous pressure at work or in relationships, even if they have an undetectable viral load.
As the metro is a part of everyday public life, the themed train would bring people accurate information to help them understand that U=U, stop being afraid and no longer stigmatize HIV-positive people, she said.
Additional reporting by Chiu Chih-jou
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
RSS