The Chinese Association of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and
AIDS Prevention and Control plans to set up an AIDS control
alliance to promote non-governmental organizations' participation
in the fight against AIDS.
The alliance will integrate the resources of China's NGOs and
coordinate their participation in domestic and international AIDS
control projects to enable them to play a more important role in
fighting AIDS, said an official from the association.
He said government efforts alone were not enough to fight
HIV/AIDS, given the population of 1.3 billion and more NGOs should
join in the battle. The NGOs should be coordinated and share
information on AIDS control to improve their efficiency.
Chinese NGOs have taken a growing role in HIV/AIDS prevention
and control in recent years. Volunteer groups dedicated to AIDS
prevention among homosexuals in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and
Chongqing have been set up.
The China Rainbow Organization, based in Chongqing, plays an
important role in preventing the spread of HIV among homosexuals
with financial help from the British Barry and Martin Trust
Fund.
China is at a key stage in its fight against AIDS/HIV. A report
from the International Labor Organization estimates that China
could lose five million laborers by 2015 if it fails to take
effective measures to address the problem.
China reported 183,733 HIV and AIDS cases in 2006, up 30 percent
from 2005. The increase was partly due to an improvement in case
reporting.
Experts from the Ministry of Health estimate there are actually
650,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in China. Chinese leaders have
vowed to limit the number of AIDS cases to 1.5 million by 2010.
(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2007)