|
Safe sex next front in nation's AIDS battle
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-22 20:47
INFECTION ROUTE CHANGING
China recorded its first outbreak of AIDS in 1989. During the 1990s, many
people -- notably in the central province of Henan -- contracted the virus
through contaminated blood transfusions.
Last year, there were about 25,000 deaths from AIDS across China. In January,
Beijing lowered by about 30 percent its estimate of the number of people living
with HIV/AIDS, yet warned against complacency, saying that the figure was still
rising with people unaware of the danger.
"We have a little bit more than 40 percent related to injecting drug use and
a little bit less than 40 percent related to sexual transmission. It seems to be
reversing," said Joel Rehnstrom, China country coordinator for UNAIDS.
The Chinese government originally stigmatised AIDS as a disease of the
decadent, capitalist West -- a problem of gays, sex workers and drug users.
Traditionally, none of these officially existed in China.
It now says, however, that it is well aware of the problem.
The fight against infectious diseases such as AIDS has been highlighted as a
key element of raising health standards in China's latest five-year plan, which
is expected to be formally approved in March at an annual meeting of parliament.
Over the past few weeks, Beijing has outlined a raft of new measures aimed at
raising awareness and trying to outlaw discrimination against people living with
HIV/AIDS.
Billboards with red ribbons line a popular bar street in Beijing, the
government sponsors AIDS events and state media have reported the start of a
state-funded needle exchange programme.
Yet just around the corner from those same posters, prostitutes and pimps
strut their stuff outside a strip of 5-star hotels, with little regard for AIDS.
"Sure, you can go with her and not use a condom, but it's double the price,"
says Lina, gesturing to a shivering and frightened-looking young girl in heavy
make-up who appeared to be about 16. "I'm more worried she'll get pregnant than
get AIDS."
Further down the street, Anna, from the southwestern city of Chongqing,
brushes off worries about AIDS as she hustles customers for a brothel
masquerading as a bar.
"We get new girls in from the countryside every two weeks, so there's no
problem," she said, tottering on high-heeled leather boots, and wrapped up
against the cold night air in a gaudy yellow jacket. "No condom is fine."
|
