China recognizes 10 million Chinese may be HIV-positive by 2010

The Official Chinese News Agency reported today that the Chinese cabinet has admitted that the AIDS epidemic is out of control and spreading rapidly through the country. They have also recognized the need for urgent measures to be put into place to change the situation.

China's first reported case of AIDS/HIV occurred some 19 years ago. The Government sanctioned report on AIDS prevention and control shows HIV to be rife throughout all of the mainland's 31 provinces.

There are a reported 840,000 HIV-carriers, of which 80,000 are thought to be suffering from the AIDS virus. Some experts warn that over 10 million Chinese will be HIV-positive by 2010, unless effective measures are put into place.

Stressing the extreme importance and emergency of curbing the quick spread of the deadly disease in China, a Chinese Health Ministry Official said if no effective prevention and control measures are taken, "the consequences will be very serious."

The Chinese government has taken a number of measures in this regard, including free treatment for the poor, the establishment of AIDS control centers, the legislation of AIDS-related laws and international cooperation.

"We should enhance management of blood banks, crack down on illegal blood collection and ban "in-hospital" infection to curb virus spread through blood transfusions. Firm measures should be taken to cut down on prostitution as well as the use and sale of banned drugs, and use of condoms and exchange of clean syringe needles should be encouraged".

"Those officials breaching duty or hiding epidemic reports will be severely punished," the circular says, calling for establishment of local AIDS prevention and treatment working committees in regions seriously afflicted by the AIDS.

For the first time pregnant women will receive free AIDS prevention medical assistance in a bid to drop the possibility of mother-to-baby HIV transmission.

Research and production of new anti-AIDS medicines will fast tracked by the government with a huge injection of funding occurring at the same time.

AIDS carriers and their family relatives will receive financial aid from the government and more efforts will put in place to counter social discrimination against AIDS patients.

International cooperation will be enhanced and foreign experience on AIDS prevention and treatment will be studied and introduced, the circular also states.