UN Foundation/Wire Alert

February 1, 2000

HIV/AIDS: China Announces New Prevention Program

Public health authorities in China will establish a prevention program for sexually transmitted diseases in an effort to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, China Business Information Network reports.

Liu Kangmai, assistant to the director of the AIDS Prevention and Control Center of the Ministry of Health, announced the plan, which was adopted at a national conference on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases held recently in Guiyang.

The plan aims to curb the spread of HIV among intravenous drug users by 2002 and lower the annual incidence of venereal disease over the next 10 years. The plan also includes new funds for an AIDS monitoring network, a blood examination system, a training center for medical professionals and sexual education programs in schools.

Considering the 50 million people who have been infected with HIV since the AIDS epidemic began, China is regarded as "a low-infection area," with an estimated 400,000 HIV cases. Health officials warned, however, that if "effective measures are not taken," that number could jump to 10 million (China Business Information).