Facing discrimination and ignorance, Hongkongers living with HIV want better education to debunk myths on disease
- HIV-positive people in the city say they have encountered hostility in hospitals and in society
- Activists urge government to give more support to education programmes and help destigmatise those with the disease
Dressed in black and his face covered by a bulky helmet, HIV-positive Duncan Lam Chun-chung opened up about his struggles on television last year.
At one point, the 39-year-old, who volunteered to appear on a talk show hosted by Canto-pop singer Eman Lam Yee-man, suddenly announced through a voice changer: “I can take off the helmet.”
And he did just that, with a faint smile, though he said he had been preparing himself mentally for that moment for ages. “I hoped by revealing my identity to the public, no one would dare smother our voices any more,” Lam recalls.
Before the official coming-out, Lam had lived a more secluded life, and had at one point thought about killing himself. But later, he decided to devote his time to combat the stigmatisation of those with HIV – which he has now been doing for a decade. The activist is vocal about discrimination in hospitals, elderly care centres and workplaces, as well as portrayals of the disease in the media.
After working for a local NGO for eight years, Lam established a new concern group Positive Outlook Community in 2016, which has served more than 100 patients. Supported by a 40-strong team of HIV-positive people, the organisation provides counselling services for newly diagnosed patients and their partners, and helps with filing complaints about discrimination.
