THE AIDS hotline run by the Department of Health entered the computer age yesterday in a bid to boost efficiency and cope with an increase in callers.
The head of the department's AIDS prevention unit, Dr Lee Shui-shan, said that by offering a choice of recorded messages or individual counselling, the computerised system would reduce the number of callers unable to get through.
Calls to the department's hotline, started in 1987, had increased by about 20 per cent annually during the past three years as more people became aware of the disease, he said.
On average, the hotline receives 1,344 inquiries a month.
''There are some stereotype questions that people like to ask and these can be answered by the telephone system, leaving counsellors to pay special attention to people who call for psychological support,'' Dr Lee said.
By pressing the telephone button indicated, callers to the revamped hotline can listen to one of seven recorded messages in Cantonese and English on such topics as ''What is AIDS?'' and ''Women and AIDS''.