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GUEST COLUMN |
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| China's strides
against HIV/AIDS |
Khalid Malik
UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative,
China |
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HIV/AIDS is one of the most serious epidemics of our times.
It’s a global crisis that requires concerted and urgent
actions on an unprecedented scale. For China, as one of the
countries experiencing rapid growth of HIV infections, the challenge
of combating the epidemic is particularly daunting. China now
has an estimated 840,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. Over 90
percent of them are between the ages of 16 to 45. Few of them
have access to treatment and proper care. Most experience discrimination
and stigma. By 2010, if we do not act now, the number of those
infected by HIV/AIDS could go as high as 10 million. |
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| Despite these challenges-and this is the good news-China has
made strides in its response. The Chinese Government has stepped
up its commitment continuously and markedly. Recently, at a
high-level panel of the 58th session of the UN General Assembly,
Executive Vice-Minister of Health Gao Qiang outlined China’s
five commitments of its response to HIV/AIDS, including improving
law and regulations, providing free treatment and medicines
to low-income people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and protecting
their legitimate rights. The Government has committed to provide
free treatment to rural HIV positive persons who are in financial
need. On this year’s World AIDS Day, Premier Wen Jiabao
and Health Minister Mme Wu Yi visited hospital and PLWHA and
sent clear messages to the whole nation. I am very encouraged
that China’s leadership and institutions are gearing up
for what can only be described as a people’s campaign to
deal with and overcome this most serious crisis. |
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| No Room for Complacency |
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But, despite this recent progress, we cannot
afford to be complacent. The unstopped march of the epidemic
requires
us to redouble our collective efforts. The United Nations system
in China is privileged to be here with China and with the Chinese
people at this critical time in formulating a nationwide strategy
and campaign to combate HIV/AIDS. In this
respect, the UN has jointly launched the Ministry of Health
the Joint Assessment Report on HIV/AIDS Prevention and
Control in China. Building on a comprehensive review of past
efforts and lessons learned, it puts forward recommendations
for the future. This report could serve as a blueprint for a
more comprehensive and full-fledged strategy. |
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| I believe that several elements will be imperative to such
a strategy: |
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| 1. Eliminating discrimination and stigma:
It has been proved internationally that discrimination and stigma
are setting back our efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention and containment.
China, with its culture and tradition, has seen taboos as associated
with sex and HIV; hence, needs more efforts in attacking and
eliminating discrimination and stigma. People living with HIV/AIDS
not only need access to treatment, they are also entitled to
the right to a normal life. |
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| 2. Taking the message to the provinces and
township levels: China is a huge country. We face the challenge
to reach the thousands of villages and towns and we need to
have the strong messages from the most senior level of the government
carried effectively to the grass root level. China has overcome
in the past great obstacles through its enormous ability to
mobilize vast numbers of people. |
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3. Building on what we know: Globally,
the UN takes the position that HIV/AIDS is a problem that has
a solution. Many
countries around the globe are grappling with the same issues.
Progress is possible. The UN’s strength lies in helping
access such experience. In China too, there are very useful
pilot experiences such as safe needle exchange among drug users
in Guangxi, on marketing of condoms among sex workers in Heinan
and promoting HIV/Aids awareness in railway stations. In the
spirit of Chairman Deng Xiao Ping, we will cross the stream
using these experiences as our stepping stones. |
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4. Focusing on vulnerable groups: on drug
users, on sex workers and others. But, also going beyond. Though
China
remains a low prevalence country, we also have to recognize
that already we are seeing transmission of the epidemic in the
broader population. |
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| 5. On treatment:The breakthroughs in efficacy
and cost of drugs means that we can and should ensure that treatment
is an essential part of any HIV/Aids response strategy. And,
importantly, as Kofi Annan said in his message: “We must
continue to speak up openly about AIDS. No progress will be
achieved by being timid. We need to ensure that we replace widespread
stigma and fear with hope and support. Each and every one of
us can create such hope and provide such support.” |
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| And, importantly, as Kofi Annan said in his message:
“We must continue to speak up openly about AIDS. No progress
will be achieved by being timid. We need to ensure that we replace
widespread stigma and fear with hope and support. Each and every
one of us can create such hope and provide such support.” |
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