THE Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Elizabeth Wong Chien Chi-lien, yesterday pleaded for the end of discrimination against HIV carriers after recent cases highlighted fears about the disease among the public.
Mrs Wong also promised more publicity would be carried out and community leaders and film stars might be asked to participate.
''Intense public interest following media reports about an HIV-infected dentist and HIV-infected students have brought into sharp focus the need for reviewing our strategy in public health education on the prevention of AIDS,'' she said.
''We have a duty to ensure that public safety is properly protected. We also have a moral responsibility to ensure that AIDS and HIV patients are not discriminated against.
''It is important that other members of the community do not discriminate against them. What we need is awareness, understanding, compassion and common sense.'' Mrs Wong said the Department of Health and the Advisory Council on AIDS were discussing new strategies on the issue for 1993.
She expected guidelines for health-care practitioners to be finalised early this year.
