Yun Huang The NZ AIDS Foundation has employed a young Asian man to help it reach out to the country's gay and bi Asian population in an effort to address the rising rate of HIV infection in that group. The most recent available figures for new HIV diagnoses suggest that as many as a quarter of all newly-discovered cases of HIV infection are being detected in Asian men who have sex with men. By comparison 60% of new diagnoses in 2013 were amongst New Zealand men of European descent, 7% were Maori and 9% were of other ethnicities. It is not known whether the infected Asian men contracted the virus in New Zealand or overseas but given the relatively small numbers of Asian men in New Zealand, and the low general prevalence of HIV here contrasted with major pools of infection in many Asian nations, it is likely that a significant proportion of cases diagnosed here represent overseas transmissions. The category "Asian" in available data covers a wide range of countries of origin. In its announcement of Yun Huang to the position of Asian Community Engagement Coordinator, the NZAF says "Yun wants our Asian community to join us on this mission and together we can advance the wellbeing of Asians in New Zealand." "The Asian community has become a crucial and integral part of New Zealand society," Huang is quoted as saying. "As the Asian Community Engagement Coordinator, I strive to strengthen the interaction and cooperation between NZAF and the Asian community in our common goal of HIV prevention and supporting people and families living with HIV. With culture and language differences in mind, I am here to ensure the information, programmes and services of NZAF are able to successfully and appropriately reach out to our Asian community."The NZAF already has two Community Engagement Coordinators reaching out primarily to gay and bi men in ethnically-defined Pacific and Maori populations. Another works with African groups where the HIV prevalence is primarily amongst heterosexuals.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 5th March 2015 - 7:33am