China at Crucial Period Before AIDS Spreads Unchecked: Experts
It's estimated the number of HIV-infected Chinese patients will total 0.6-1 million this year.
Zeng Yi, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has warned that China is at the critical moment before AIDS spread unchecked. He pointed out that in recent years, population of Aids-contracted Chinese patients has increased at an annual rate of 30 percent and has entered into the fast growth period. If no effective preventive measure is adopted, it will quickly go rife.
"By then, China will become one of the countries with the most AIDS patients in the world and the spread of this ailment will become a nationwide disaster," warned Zeng, an expert working in the virus office of the China Academy of Prophylaxis Science.
He called for the launch of extensive, intensive and continuous publicity education on AIDS among the general public, intensified legal control on safe blood supply and severe punishment of the illegal blood collectors and the medical personnel working in collusion with them. He also appealed for the formulation of relevant policies to protect and support the medical personnel, social workers and non-governmental organizations in launching publicity education in the prevention of Aids among the highly perilous people, such as prostitutes and drug addicts, including the use of condom and clean needles.