However, for those people living with HIV or AIDS (PHA), discrimination still exists. A recent survey indicates that among all the PHA interviewees, 40 percent had suffered from prejudicial treatment at some point, and over 60 percent complained that their family members were also harassed as a result of their illness. Mr. Xu recounts, when he told his friends about his condition they became fearful of him and later all disappeared.

The 2009 assessment of China's AIDS epidemic situation jointly conducted by the Chinese Health Ministry, UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS) and the WHO stated that by the end of 2009, there were an estimated 740,000 people living with HIV and AIDS in China, including 105,000 AIDS patients. The figure shows us the lofty challenges we are still facing, but it is not a mission impossible. It has been proven that decent psychological support, care and love all play a significant role in the treatment and prevention of AIDS.

Policies Support Dignity

The Chinese government has been instrumental in fostering the nation's AIDS prevention, treatment and awareness campaigns. Each year on "World AIDS Day," Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao would pay a visit, making sure to shake hands and make physical contact with AIDS patients in order to help eliminate social prejudice and fear, and express the government's care and concern for the infected. Meanwhile, the special fund that the central treasury has set aside for AIDS prevention and treatment has continued to increase – from RMB 390 million in 2003 to RMB 1.008 billion in 2009, in addition to the central treasury subsidy for provincial AIDS prevention and treatment programs, which reached RMB 989 million in 2009.

Since 2003, the Chinese government has been providing antiretroviral HIV drugs for HIV/AIDS patients and carriers, HIV testing for the risk groups, intervention therapies for infected pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and psychological counseling and compulsory education for AIDS orphans, all free of charge. While providing living subsidies to the PHA, the government also encourages them to engage in productive activities that they are capable of.

Mrs. Liu, HIV infected, has benefited from these policies. She recalls that at the time of her husband's death from AIDS, she was only 29 years old with a son under the age of three. The new policies have relieved financial pressures on HIV/AIDS patients and carriers. Mrs. Liu receives the medicines she needs free, saving her large sums of money. "Many of my friends with AIDS in the past had to spend thousands of RMB each month on antiretroviral drugs, but now they are made free to us. So I've no reason not to follow my therapy earnestly," says Mrs. Liu.

Meanwhile, China has developed partnerships with several related international organizations. In November 2009, the Chinese Health Ministry launched a national campaign against AIDS-related discrimination and stigmatization, in collaboration with UNAIDS, PHA organizations and other co-partners. During the event, Huang Jiefu, vice minister of the Health Ministry, stated that the elimination of social prejudices against HIV/AIDS patients and carriers, creating an understanding of them, and providing proper care and support for them was crucial to the successful prevention and control of the disease. He added that this was a challenge not only for China but also for the entire world.

Aside from the outpouring of governmental support, various non-governmental activities and campaigns have also been initiated, and many relevant charity organizations, medical centers and counseling groups have been evolving their programs. Celebrities and public figures have jumped in to make contributions to the HIV/AIDS cause. Pu Cunxin, a film and stage star, was the country's first "AIDS prevention advertising ambassador," producing charity spots and movies on behalf of the cause since 2000. Many Chinese celebrities of international fame, like Jackie Chan and NBA All-Star Yao Ming, have made dedicated efforts to the worldwide campaign against HIV/AIDS, raising public awareness and encouraging people to protect themselves as well as to share their love and care with their friends and family members living with HIV or AIDS.