Christopher Jackson

The Society for Aids Care’s board director and co-chairman of the Aids Walk discusses how far HIV/AIDS research has come

What made you get involved with the Society for Aids Care (SAC)?

In the 1990s, not long after I had moved to Hong Kong from New York, I attended an SAC fundraiser and successfully bid on an item in an auction. After getting to know some people on the board, I was asked to join in 2000.

What are some challenges SAC is facing at the moment?

An increased number of cases in young men who have sex with men, rehabilitation cases and elderly cases that require medication supervision and emotional counselling.

How much money was raised at the event?

The event at the Upper House raised HK$85,300. This is both a gross and net figure as The Upper House very kindly underwrote the whole event. The event was held to celebrate and highlight the annual walk. In 2019, the walk raised HK$411,940, which is the highest amount ever for this event.

What are your hopes for the future of SAC?

The SAC’S mission is to provide high quality direct patient care services to people living with HIV/ Aids, to strengthen their self-care ability, build up their self-confidence and vision of positive living, in order to facilitate their full reintegration into the community. In the years to come, we will continue to be committed to the provision of care for our patient members.

What has been the highlight of this journey?

I am happy that I have been able to support this organisation as a member of its board of directors since 2000 and be part of the AIDS Charity Walk committee as co-chair since 2002. Also, I am grateful to see that over 20 years of evidence has demonstrated that HIV treatment is highly effective in reducing the transmission of HIV and it is now clear that people living with HIV with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV sexually.