 Capital strengthens AIDS prevention and control
By Te Kan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-21 08:35
As AIDS remains a crucial concern around the world, Beijing is honing its capabilities to fight the spread of the disease. China's number of HIV infected people and AIDS patients was reported at 234,246 by January 31. In Beijing the number was 5,369 at the end of June, including 1,088 local residents, 4,015 from other provinces and 195 foreigners. Drug abuse and sexual contact are recognized as main routes for transmission of the disease. Rapid increases and expansion from high risk groups to the general population are seen as two other characteristics of the affliction in Beijing.
With continuing assistance from the central and municipal governments as well as international groups, Beijing has made significant progress in reducing HIV transmission rates, according to local authorities. Governmental cooperation HIV/AIDS prevention and control committees and offices have been set up in both municipal and 18 district or county-level governments, with the Beijing government taking the lead role. Four free, one care By the end of 2003, China launched a policy called "four free and one care" that includes free blood tests for those with HIV, free education for orphans of AIDS patients and free consultation, screening tests and antiretroviral therapy for pregnant women. Low-income AIDS patients and their families have benefited from the policy. From 2004 to the end of July 2008, 19,909 people received free consultation and 19,205 people have been tested free. Among them, 369 people were identified as HIV-infected. Beijing's Ditan, You'an and Union hospitals offer free treatment of HIV/AIDS and have provided free antiretroviral treatment for 334 patients, including 185 local residents and 149 migrant workers. Three projects Local authorities consider prevention equally important to medical treatment. Agencies have strengthened their crackdown on prostitution and drug smuggling and abuse. A program called "three projects" has been started that includes condom publicity, improvement on clean syringe exchange stations and methadone maintenance treatment. Blood srceening Blood donors and detainees now have antibody screening tests, which found that 122 of the 15,791 screened tested positive in the first half of this year. Those who have worked overseas are seen as another high-risk group, so the Inspection and Quarantine Inspection Bureau at the Beijing Capital International Airport conducting HIV screening on some overseas workers. There were no HIV positive cases found in 4,143 sailors and overseas workers tested in the first half of this year. Community control Nineteen prevention and control model communities have been built in 10 districts. Their experience formed the basis for expanded community projects. Increasing public awareness All districts and counties in Beijing have established teams for disease treatment and education made up of 253 members from the departments of health, public security, education, youth league and women associations. Gay cooperation Local authorities have cooperated with the Beijing gay association for HIV prevention and control. The two jointly organized a series of programs studying prevention and control, and provided training in antiretroviral therapy and dietary assistance. Red Ribbon volunteers The Beijing Municipal Committee of Communist Youth League of China encourages youngsters to participate in prevention and control programs and has established a "Youth Red Ribbon" team to undertake educational projects in schools and communities. Future plans Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS is closely related to fighting drug abuse, improving the social environment and battling unhealthy behavior, making it more complicated to battle than other infectious diseases. The State Council has released the regulations on prevention and control that provide clear guidelines. The "four free and one care" policy proved fruitful, but a number of those afflicted missed the opportunity of free antiretroviral therapy for fear of losing their privacy. Government regulations require real identities for free antiretroviral therapy. More work should be done to spread free treatment, the authorities said. Considering the positive effect of the "three projects" on reducing transmission, the authorities plan to invest more in public healthcare services. One approach is further promotion of condom use. Condoms will be put in all rooms of every hotel this year. The eight existing methadone clinics will be expanded to provide more treatment. More than 150 patients will receive treatment at each clinic. Districts or counties with higher incidences of intravenous drug use plan to improve local clean syringe exchange stations. Enhancing education Education and prevention are the major tools of controlling the spread of the virus according to the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau. As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) brought the issue of HIV/AIDS prevention and control to the Olympics, sport events provide opportunities to educate society about the disease. Jacques Rogge, president of the IOC and Peter Piot, executive director of the UN AIDS program, signed a memorandum of understanding in 2004 for joint action. At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, organizers provided condoms in the Olympic Village as well as cards and handbooks specifically for athletes. The Beijing Center for Disease Control said organizations and individuals should get involved in prevention and control efforts, including intervention in high risk behavior and caring for HIV infected people, AIDS patients and their families. The municipal government plans to extend more support to assist HIV/AIDS patients and to improve communications between governmental agencies and patients. 
 (China Daily 08/21/2008 page20) |
