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 this June, Health Minister Zhang
Wenkang said Tuesday.
Health circles in China, including officials and various
organizations, will work harder to improve public understanding of
HIV/AIDS and its victims, said Zhang Wenkang Tuesday.
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 plan to establish a scientific and modern
forecast system and model to strengthen the monitoring work over
the epidemic situation of HIV/AIDS in China.
China has listed HIV/AIDS prevention and control research as key
State scientific research projects. And Chinese medical experts are
searching for a better treatment measures for AIDS using
traditional Chinese medicine.
At
the same time, China has also established a "green" 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 total figures for the end of 2001. 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 Tuesday.
About 68 per cent of all HIV/AIDS cases are caused by infected
needles used by drug addicts, according to the Ministry of
Health.
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, and 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 Tuesday.
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).
Last year, 2.25 billion yuan (US$271 million) was invested by the
central government to improve the condition of blood collection
stations and establish more blood storage centres.
China has also streamlined the manufacture of domestic HIV/AIDS
medicines to lower prices and make the medicines more
affordable.
Kedu, a legal imitation of zidovudine which is widely known as AZT,
went on sale in tablet and capsule form across the nation in early
September.
The medicine, produced by Northeast China Pharmaceuticals Group
Company, should held bring down the annual medical expenditures of
AIDS patients and HIV carriers to less than 10,000 yuan
(US$1,200).
The launch of the medicine brings an end to the country's total
reliance on imported AIDS drugs.
AIDS patients and HIV carriers can get a cocktail treatment at
Beijing You'an Hospital at a monthly cost of from 2,500 yuan
(US$300) to 3,000 yuan (US$360).
The State Council is organizing officials and experts to draft laws
and regulations about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases,
such as HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Management Regulations, to
deal with various problems associated with the diseases.
(China
Daily October 16,2002 )