The Chinese capital of Beijing has pledged to keep the number of its HIV-infected residents under 20,000 during the next three years.
The Beijing Youth Daily reported Friday that the municipal government has put forward a three-year plan to fight against the deadly virus.
According to the plan, HIV-infected patients will enjoy the same health insurance services as the rest of the population.
Beijing will take measures to ensure that, by 2005, those infected via blood transfusions account for less than 0.0005 percent of the total HIV-positive population.
The administrations will continue to crack down on illegal blood banks and ensure that blood for medical use passes the HIV test.
The government also pledged to educate 85 percent of its urban residents and 60 percent of rural residents about HIV/AIDS/ prevention and treatment-related information.
Fighting the spread of HIV represents a major challenge for the city, according to the plan.
China has at least 1 million HIV-positive residents, according to the Ministry of Health.
(People?s Daily February 22, 2003)
