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TCM NEWS
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Nation vows to contain AIDS |
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China will make more efforts to contain the rapidly increasing spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, which had an estimated 1 million HIV/AIDS cases by the end of June, Health Minister Zhang Wenkang said yesterday.
Health circles in China, including officials and various organizations, will work harder to improve public understanding of HIV/AIDS and its victims, said Zhang yesterday.
A pilot project of comprehensive care and treatment for HIV/AIDS will be carried out in 100 key areas where the disease is spreading, such as some regions in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, which has the largest number of HIV cases, to gradually establish enlightened social attitudes towards HIV victims.
The Ministry of Health plans to establish a scientific and modern forecast system to strengthen the monitoring work on the epidemic situation of HIV/AIDS in China.
China has listed HIV/AIDS prevention and control research as key State scientific research projects. Chinese medical experts are also searching for better treatment for AIDS using traditional Chinese medicine.
At the same time, China has also established a channel for the import of HIV/AIDS medicines from abroad. There will be no tariff charges on foreign HIV/AIDS medicines coming into the country.
The first half of 2002 saw a 16.7 per cent increase in HIV carriers from the figures for the previous year. The increase rate from 2000 to 2001 was 58 per cent, and there are now nearly 100,000 AIDS patients in China, an official report said yesterday.
About 68 per cent of all HIV/AIDS cases are caused by infected needles used by drug addicts,
according to the ministry.
Infection resulting from plasma collection and blood transfusions, where part of the blood taken is reinjected in donors, is the second biggest cause of infection, accounting for 11.2 per cent of the total. Unprotected sex accounts for 7.2 per cent of AIDS infections.
Of the total number of victims, 13.4 per cent do not know the source of their infection, said the official document issued yesterday. Experts warned that the numbers could hit 10 million by 2010 unless effective measures are taken immediately.
China's central government, its branches at various levels and various social groups have devoted a great deal of time, energy and money to fighting the disease and taking care of HIV/AIDS victims in recent years, according to Zhang.
The State Council issued a long-term plan in 1998 for HIV/AIDS control to 2010 that includes a series of prevention measures such as ensuring the safety of medical blood supplies, and clamping down on drug abuse and prostitution.
In 2001, the central government increased its special budget for HIV/AIDS prevention and control from 15 million yuan (US$1.8 million) to 100 million (US$12 million).
From Chinadaily.com.cn
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