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Vice Premier on HIV/AIDS prevention
[Xinhua, 8 May 2004]
BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Xinhua published the full text of
a speech Vice-Premier and Minister of Health Wu Yi delivered last month
at an national working conference on the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
In her speech, dated April 6, the official called for implementing central
policies and arrangements on the prevention of the deadly disease, studying
the situation and preventive measures, and looking for effective mechanism,
to step up the efforts to control the disease timely and firmly curb the fast
spreading of the disease in China.
HIV/AIDS is a major health and social problem in the world and its spread has
also brought about severe impacts on economic and social development of the
country, she said.
Since the first report of AIDS patient in 1981, the number of HIV carriers
and AIDS patients has reached 69 million, of whom 27 million have died. So
far, 840,000 Chinese have been infected of HIV and 80,000 of them are AIDS
patients, according to official figures.
China has Asia's second and world's 14th largest HIV/AIDS population. The majority
of HIV carriers and AIDS patients in China are young people and live in rural
areas.
Wu called for further efforts to create public awareness about the issue; curbing
the spread of HIV via blood; cracking down on crimes that cause the spreading
of HIV, such as drug addiction and prostitution; monitoring the situation carefully;
and implementing government policies and measures on treatment of HIV carriers
and AIDS patients.
While the government has to be the leading force in the efforts to control
HIV spreading, all walks of life should be mobilized to join hands in the efforts,
the official said. She called for studying international experience and combining
it with China's own situation. The disease should be prevented in accordance
with law and science, she stressed.
Enditem
05-09-2004 00:34
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