China promotes HIV/AIDS prevention

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-02-2007 09:17

Various promotions on HIV/AIDS prevention have been held across China for World AIDS Day. Networks, free treatment and voluntary testing are available in areas with high numbers of HIV-infected people.

The latest report shows that sex is now the major method for transmitting HIV. Many provinces are placing youth education as a top priority in the prevention campaign.

Students and young people are encouraged to learn about the prevention of AIDS through activities such as exhibitions and seminars.

Experts say teenagers are more likely to accept and try new ways of behaving when it comes to sex.

Wang Ruotao from National AIDS Control Center said, "Responsible sex and sex knowledge are parts of a healthy lifestyle. We encourage responsibility. Meanwhile, protection methods are always necessary."

As well as students, migrant workers is another population group that is being targeted by the authority's prevention campaign.

In southwest China, authorities offer lectures, pamphlets to explain current government policies on the protection of rights for AIDS patients and AIDS prevention methods.

Free voluntary testing is promoted in most areas. Hundreds of testing stations have been set up in some eastern provinces this year.

Meanwhile in central China, AIDS patients can receive up to almost 20-thousand yuan a year if they use officially-appointed hospitals for treatment.

So far this year, about 50-thousand HIV infections have been reported in China. People aged between 20 and 40 represent 80 percent of all new cases. Globally, more than 10-thousand new infections are reported every day.

Editor:Zhang Ning