Meet the 2023 Healthcare Provider Champions - East Asia and Pacific

Amy nominated Chien-Yu Cheng for:

My child was diagnosed with HIV. I used to think that HIV was incurable and my child was beyond help. However, Dr Cheng introduced the correct concept and told us that HIV was not fatal. We got to see our child as normal. It wasn’t until then that I had hope that I could face it with my child. Dr Cheng easily guided and opened us up to the concept of HIV, which enabled my child and I to keep each other company and to get him treated. As a parent going through all the processes, I realized that my child is not to blame; instead, the whole family should together rip off the label and discrimination. Only through the friendly environment of the family and society does it become better for people living with HIV. This is why I am nominating Dr Cheng.

Chien-Yu Cheng: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

I teach medical humanities at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. This course helps us address the difficulties and challenges faced by students, patients and their families, and case managers, creating a tripartite collaboration and a win-win situation.

In addition, my team members and I promote HIV-related concepts across departments at Taoyuan Hospital. Of course, such changes don't happen overnight, but we strive to help staff in other departments understand mutual respect and that surgery doesn't transmit HIV.

^* To protect the identity of the nominator, a pseudonym is used.

Blue nominated Peing Chuang for:

Today marks my second anniversary of not progressing to AIDS. In the first year after my diagnosis, I didn't interact much with my case manager. When I went to Taipei City Hospital (Kunming Branch), I hadn't disclosed my diagnosis to my family and I had no outlet to express my feelings.

Director Chuang has great empathy, is willing to learn and understand the language of people living with HIV, and comprehends our behavioural patterns and psychological states. She helped me a lot in many ways.

“It is Director Chuang who made me believe in myself and I felt like among family when I started HIV treatment.”

Peing Chuang: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

When assisting people living with HIV, some question the expertise and background of case managers compared to nurses. Therefore, I don't limit myself to the role of a case manager; this allows me to understand people’s conditions from different perspectives. I believe that human nature can touch people's hearts.

For example, the referendums that rejected same-sex marriage rights and LGBTI-inclusive education in schools in Taiwan in 2018 have torn relationships apart. But I tried to understand the stories from my perspective and used storytelling to help others understand, especially when facing HIV. I also don't strictly define my working hours, and I will do my best to help people whenever they need assistance, as long as it's within my capabilities.

^* To protect the identity of the nominator, a pseudonym is used.

Brandon nominated Yi-Hui Wu for:

I was diagnosed with HIV in September 2022. Most people living with HIV nominate their case managers, and a few nominate their doctors. I nominated Dr Wu because she gave me much psychological support. She has helped me tremendously throughout the process, removing stigma, like the expression, "dead gay", in Mandarin. She also assisted me both physically and mentally, and we get along like good friends. I am grateful that I met Dr Wu.

Yi-Hui Wu: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

Building a relationship between doctor and client takes time and effort. Each patient has different personalities and situations to address. Our institution provides not only medical treatment for people living with HIV but also psychological counselling, which allows us to assist people from various perspectives.

When encountering members of the public who don’t understand HIV, I would organize a friendly doctors’ group. I found that the biggest obstacle was within the infectious disease department of the medical system. For example, if a doctor treats a person living with HIV, they might face scrutiny and concern from hospital authorities, including mistrust from medical centres towards primary care doctors. These are areas I believe we still need to work on.

Kevon nominated Wen-Wei Ku for:

I have been living with HIV for about three years. Dr Ku is my third physician and my second in Taipei.

Dr Ku took particular care of me. Initially, I was not on medication. One day, I decided to start treatment. However, my viral load was very low, so did not think medication was necessary. Dr Ku earnestly explained the pros and cons of taking medication, looking at it from my perspective, unlike other doctors who only provide standardized medical care.

When facing relationship issues, Dr Ku also offers help. For example, when I meet a new partner, he reminds me of safety precautions and provides emotional support. Dr Ku is both a friend and a physician to me, providing medical treatment and assistance.

“I hope a person with HIV will be viewed as a human being rather than a patient in the future.”

Wen-Wei Ku: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

When I was studying, I noticed that there were fewer voices and representation in the HIV field for men who have sex with men. I believe that, in such an environment, it's harder for the medical community to empathize with men who have sex with men. So, I chose to work in the HIV field as a physician to advocate for and communicate better with clients who are men who have sex with men.

Every client has needs and psychological boundaries. As a physician, my goal is to provide treatment in a comfortable manner for both parties. The doctor-patient relationship also depends on chemistry, and I am willing to engage in casual conversations and topics related to people’s lives.

“As a healthcare provider, judgement-free communication is important.”

^* To protect the identity of the nominator, a pseudonym is used.

Dhan nominated Po-Ang Chen for:

I am from the Philippines and have been in Taiwan for about four years.

I would like to nominate Po-Ang, my healthcare provider, because he really shows compassion to help me in any possible way. I remember the night that I got the news that I was HIV positive from the doctor; I was shocked and frightened.

I tried to find a support group for foreigners in Taiwan, but there was not much information in English. So, I looked on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube, and I saw a video clip on how an overseas Filipino workers can get an HIV test from the GisneyLand Hsinchu office. I immediately messaged them on Facebook and, to my surprise, the response was fast and friendly.

Po-Ang told me he would make sure that he would help me get through this and I felt hopeful that night. I asked so many questions about my worries. Po-Ang always checked on me and tried to answer all my questions. I did not feel alone even though I was away from my family. It felt awesome to know that there are people like them who are willing to help foreigners like me live with HIV.

Po-Ang Chen: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

I'm passionate about providing holistic care to my clients and supporting them in each step of the process, from testing to gaining access to treatment, and beyond. And I continue to create support groups for people living with HIV and educate the wider community about drug prevention.

My goals are to keep educating younger generations about people living with HIV, to help remove the stigma associated with it, and to raise awareness of gender equality issues by working with local government agencies, as well as community groups. I attempt to continue initiating media projects in foreign languages and provide foreigners in Taiwan with services and resources so that more people will gain easier access to information and services about HIV prevention and treatment.

“I hope all patients will be equally treated, regardless of HIV, in the near future.”

^* To protect the identity of the nominator, a pseudonym is used.

Chan Shan: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

I started my work in the HIV clinic when I was pregnant in 2009. A frequently asked question then from colleagues and even friends was, "Why did you choose to work in an HIV clinic while pregnant? Aren't you worried about transmitting HIV?" My answer was simple yet profound: I understand well the modes of HIV transmission and feel confident that I can provide care without compromising my health or that of my coming baby.

Throughout the early years of my specialty nurse training, I had the privilege of listening to the stories of countless people living with HIV. They shared their experiences of HIV, their relationships with partners, family and friends, and the impact of societal stigma on their lives. To be better connected with and support my clients, I undertook counselling courses to enhance my communication skills. Empathy, engagement and empowerment became the foundational pillars of my approach to care for individuals with HIV.

Education plays a vital role in dispelling myths and fears surrounding HIV. As an HIV nurse specialist, it is my responsibility to provide comprehensive education to my clients, their partners and their caregivers. In addition, I have embarked on a mission to educate fellow nurses and nursing students, promoting non-judgemental attitudes and non-discriminatory care.

Despite increased public awareness and the growing understanding of the undetectable equals untransmittable (U=U) concept, HIV-related stigma remains a significant barrier to HIV care. Looking ahead, our focus must shift towards public education on HIV knowledge, safer sex and anti-discrimination. Through advocacy, empathy, understanding and acceptance, we can build a society that supports individuals with HIV.

Dr. Heather To: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

Following my infectious diseases training, I joined the Special Preventive Programme and started my career in taking care of people living with HIV.

Over the years, medical advancements have markedly improved the treatment outcomes for HIV. HIV is now a chronic disease that can be effectively managed with antiretroviral therapy. AIDS-related mortality has been dropping worldwide. However, there are still late presenters with AIDS-related complications or who die. People living with HIV still face many struggles in various aspects of life.

As medical practitioners taking care of people living with HIV, we strive to provide quality and comprehensive medical care to our patients. We seek opportunities to improve the public understanding of HIV through various campaigns conducted by the Red Ribbon Centre, non-governmental organizations and the Hong Kong Society for HIV Medicine.

Tsang Tak Yin: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

Tsang Tak is a consultant at the Department of Medicine & Geriatrics and the Medical Director of the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong. He has been a pioneer in inpatient care of HIV since 1997 and established a comprehensive outpatient service in 2009. In 2021, he set up the nurse clinic to enhance patient education and care. Dr Tsang Tak recognizes the importance of keeping up with technological advancements; he plans to implement telemedicine for people living with HIV to streamline their follow up and optimize their patient journey. The multidisciplinary team, which includes HIV clinicians, psychiatrists, nurse specialists, designated HIV pharmacists and clinical psychologists, provides a one-stop service for people living with HIV.

Despite HIV being present in Hong Kong for almost 40 years, having a diagnosis remains a challenge. While there have been various community programmes and campaigns aimed at reducing stigma towards people living with HIV, social and cultural contexts continue to perpetuate this stigmatization. Although innovative HIV treatments have prolonged and improved the quality of life of people living with HIV, there is still much to be done to enhance their mental and psychosocial health, particularly for underprivileged individuals. Dr Tsang has also been involved in designing training software for healthcare professionals across public hospitals to reduce stigma towards people living with HIV. He participates in patient educational activities organized by various NGOs.

Mr Chan nominated Wilson Lam for:

Dr Lam is an infectious diseases specialist, a specialist doctor in the AIDS service team at Elizabeth Hospital, and a member of the board of the Hong Kong AIDS Foundation. I got to know him through activities, promotions and short films organized by the Hong Kong AIDS Foundation.

As a person who was diagnosed with HIV over 10 years ago, experiencing discrimination was inevitable. However, since then, the level of discrimination has significantly decreased, and I believe it is largely due to extensive promotional and educational efforts. Dr Lam has been a featured speaker in numerous newspapers, promotions and press conferences. Through his public education initiatives, he has helped the general public gain a better understanding and awareness of HIV, thereby reducing discrimination against people living with HIV.

Even though we have not completely eliminated public discrimination against individuals living with HIV, Dr Lam’s contribution to the current better level of acceptance is invaluable. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Dr Lam for his dedication and efforts for individuals like us who are living with HIV.

Wilson Lam: I am #DoingTheRightThing because…

I started taking care of people living with HIV two decades ago and was shell-shocked by the way healthcare workers stigmatized and neglected my first patient living with HIV during his hospitalization for syphilis. Back then, the general public, including healthcare workers, often had misconceptions about HIV and would feel anxious about taking care of people living with HIV.

Since treating that first patient, I have always tried my best to reduce stigmatization by healthcare workers, especially those who don’t have much exposure to the field of HIV and AIDS. I have helped organize online workshops for healthcare workers in public hospitals, designed specifically to reduce HIV stigmatization, and delivered lectures on HIV and AIDS to nurses and allied healthcare practitioners, including physiotherapists and pharmacists.

Over the years, I have prioritized HIV and AIDS in all of my teaching sessions for medical students. This includes in-depth interviews with people living with HIV as I think it is important for students to learn about this early in their career. In recent years, I have been doing the same for the public by taking part in local media interviews on HIV and AIDS in the capacity of my roles in local academic societies and NGOs.

Apart from providing clinical care in HIV clinics and hospitals over the past two decades, I feel that it is totally my privilege to be in a position where I am able to help change the societal view on people living with HIV, especially on stigmatization.

^* To protect the identity of the nominator, a pseudonym is used.