Anti-AIDS Action Accelerates
Since 2008, China has incorporated all HIV/AIDS-related data, such as reported HIV/AIDS cases, interventions to prevent and control HIV infections among high-risk groups, and anti-retroviral treatment into one national system, according to Wu Zunyou, director of the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention. China also has unified nationwide management of HIV/AIDS patients, whereby upon establishing that a person is infected, the health system follows up and provides life-long service.
Today, China carries out interventions among 125,000 people in high-risk groups every month. The effectiveness of this measure is apparent in the fall in reported new HIV infections – from 70,000 in 2005 to 48,000 in 2011.
Moreover, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has demonstrated great potential in treating AIDS since trials started in the mid-90s. Since 2004, China’s central finance has allocated RMB 90 million to providing free TCM treatment for around 6,000 AIDS patients. It has been proven highly efficacious at low cost.
Power of NGOs
The government’s growing openness and support for AIDS patients, along with the involvement of foreign foundations, has drawn the participation in AIDS prevention and control of certain domestic NGOs.
In 1990, the Beijing You’an Hospital, affiliated with the Capital Medical University, became the first medical institution to receive AIDS patients. In 1998 the hospital established the Beijing You’an Loving Home – the first NGO in China to provide care to AIDS patients. The institute has formed a mature working system where doctors, nurses and volunteers living with AIDS all work together to provide service and training in the care of AIDS patients.
Six workers in the Haihe Star, an AIDS relief organization in Tianjin, give consultations in an apartment building to people living with HIV and those in high-risk groups. Li Hu, who previously ran his own human resource company, was diagnosed HIV positive in 2006. He is in charge of the organization. Since 2007, Li has used his personal savings to establish and operate the Haihe Star organization. His aim is to help AIDS patients build self-confidence; also to eliminate discrimination and prejudice by reassuring people that they run no risk of HIV infection from shaking hands with or having dinner with a person living with HIV/AIDS.
In October 2012, a hospital in Tianjin refused to perform surgery for lung cancer on a 25-year-old male resident of the municipality, because he is HIV positive. The event triggered heated social debates nationwide. The man finally received treatment after Li Hu called on the general public for their support. On November 26, Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who is also head of the State Council Commission on the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS, held a discussion with a group of NGO representatives, Li Hu among them.
Li Keqiang stated during the meeting that the government would purchase the services of experienced NGOs and so help them resolve financial difficulties. The logic behind this move is that the joint efforts of NGOs, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and public hospitals will make combating AIDS more effective. Li also proposed that the State Council establish an anti-AIDS foundation to support the work of NGOs in this regard.
Li Hu is now in the throes of establishing a website aimed at safeguarding the legal rights of people living with HIV/AIDS by encouraging more lawyers to help AIDS victims. The winding-up of certain international programs made other NGOs shy away from the area. But Li Hu is determined, and has a bold plan in mind. “Maybe I’ll open a restaurant where the chefs and waiters are all HIV positive. Would you come?” Li asked.
Inspired by the operation model of international anti-AIDS organizations, the Chinese government has shown its support for NGOs in recent years by purchasing, in accordance with Li Ke-qiang’s statement, their services. Ministry of Health officials revealed that the ministry would promulgate documents facilitating the registration of anti-AIDS NGOs, and continue to support the participation of NGOs in their fight against the epidemic.
Dispel Discrimination
Wang Mengcai, a farmer from Northeast China, was diagnosed with AIDS in 2003, having become infected with HIV through a blood transfusion. At that time, the mere mention of AIDS kindled widespread fear and dread. Consequently Wang dared not leave his home for six months.
