Loretta Wong, social worker/counsellor at AIDS Concern.
Age: 28.
Career path: I was born and educated in Hong Kong. After completing my A-Levels at Lingnan College I did a social work degree at Baptist College. My sisters are both teachers and my family expected me to follow them; it didn't really appeal to me, although I wanted to work in the community. After graduation in 1992, my first job was with a legislative councillor?who? in Kwun Tong. Then I moved to Caritas and worked in the Community Services Centre in Kennedy Town. I started working for AIDS Concern in 1996 and am now the support services co-ordinator. At first my mother wasn't too happy about me working with people who have HIV, but she has come to understand that it is perfectly safe. I am not married.
Wong's day: I get to the office in Chai Wan at around 9.45 am. My schedule varies, but I rarely finish before 8 pm. At least 10 per cent of my time is spent on the phone number?. Callers include those who have tested positive and need advice and support, practically and emotionally; those who have engaged in high-risk behaviour and are considering being tested; and sometimes family members. There are many issues to deal with. If a caller is thought to be high risk - likely to have contracted HIV - then I have to explain the advantages and disadvantages of being tested, what will happen should the test be positive, where to go for the test, and so on. I also talk to them about safer sex.
If someone has just found out that they are HIV infected then I would listen to their concerns about finances, their job, their housing, telling their spouse and friends, how to go about getting practical help, and generally how to face the future. We need to assure clients of absolute confidentiality, so when I speak to a new client I ask them what I should call them and we don't ask for real names. Most people who have been recently diagnosed are in a panic and often only have us to turn to because of the stigma they feel.
We presently support about 30 AIDS clients with ongoing advice, counselling, and practical help such as home visits, taking them soup, providing free transport service to hospitals, and so on. About 70 per cent of my day is spent travelling. A lot of clients prefer to meet me in a neutral venue, and as our policy is to help everyone with AIDS this might mean travelling to Tuen Mun or wherever I need to go. I might be the only person who knows that the client has AIDS, and they can feel completely deserted and afraid.