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Asian countries observe World AIDS Day
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-01 21:57
In South Korea, nearly 10,000 students at 300 high schools in Seoul were
given HIV lessons.
"In Korea, people tend to think AIDS is a problem that has nothing to do with
them," said Cha Hei-sun of World Vision Korea, which sponsored the event along
with the United Nation's Children's Fund. "People's awareness of the disease is
really needed here."
North Korea on Thursday said none of its people are infected with the
disease, but that some foreigners have tested HIV-positive and have been sent
home at their request.
"Preventive measures against AIDS have been taken so thoroughly that people
are leading a happy life free from its damage thanks to the public health policy
of the government," the communist North's Minju Joson newspaper said in a report
carried by its official Korean Central News Agency.
Meanwhile, 24 million of condoms were expected to be distributed in Thailand
to help raise awareness there, said Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat.
In Vietnam, U.S. Ambassador Michael Marine said Wednesday more emphasis must
be placed on making sure the message reaches children to keep the disease from
spreading into the general population.
"I think that education has to start very young," he said.
So far, the disease in Vietnam remains largely concentrated in high-risk
groups, such as injecting drug users and sex workers, but health workers fear
the virus will eventually spread to the general population and result in a major
epidemic.
"It's certainly not sufficient to focus on HIV/AIDS one day a year," Marine
said. "It's something that should be in the forefront of people's minds all the
time."
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