Disruption of HIV Service Provision and Response in Hong Kong During COVID-19: Issues of Privacy and Space

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health and rights is a significant public health issue. HIV/AIDS related services have been severely disrupted during the pandemic in different aspects. This paper highlights how privacy concerns affected HIV service provision during COVID-19 in Hong Kong, by sharing the experience of AIDS Concern Hong Kong. Based on our experience of working with our local MSM clients, temporary closure of center-based testing, venue-based testing in gay saunas, and mobile testing, meant that MSM could not easily go to a safe space to get anonymous and gay-friendly testing. To mitigate this, AIDS Concern Hong Kong put effort into promoting and making self-testing available during periods of testing center closure. We also made sure that people can choose to have test kits delivered to an anonymous pick-up station.