China Active in AIDS Control and PreventionInside sources from the Ministry of Health say that the State Council has lately approved a program plan for AIDS control, prevention and cure, for which a special fund of 100m yuan will be earmarked from central finance every year. A 950m T-bond will also be issued in support of blood bank construction and other measures adopted to put a curb on AIDS spreading. By 2005, the annual incidence of AIDS patients and HIV carriers is to be held under 10 percent, with average chances of HIV infection through blood transfusion reduced under 1/100,000, or 1/10000 to 1/50000 in high-risk regions.Much progress has been made in China's AIDS prevention work, but the severe situation allows no relaxation. According to the plan, following measures will be adopted: Guarantee the safety of blood and its products and check AIDS spread through blood collection; strengthen health education and spread knowledge on AIDS prevention and blood donation; reduce and prevent people's dangerous behavior; improve health service system, especially that for AIDS patients and HIV carriers; set up AIDS supervision, information and evaluation systems; strengthen training on AIDS prevention and conduct study on AIDS prevention. AIDS is a global problem. Experts say by now over 36m people have been infected worldwide and 600,000 cases reported in China. Practices show AIDS spread can surely be halted if effective measures are adopted by the whole society. By PD Online staff member Li Heng |
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