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China issues guidelines on tackling HIV/AIDS
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-02-12 10:57
But UN and Chinese officials warned that the lower figure was due to an
overestimate last time, and that there was by no means a slowdown in the growth
of new infections.
Some of the points in the guidelines appear to address UN recommendations
that China encourages people to get tested and provide free testing services as
only 10 percent of its HIV carriers are believed to be aware they are infected.
While some heavily infected areas already provide free drugs and treatment,
it was still not a nationwide practice.
In growing awareness that it cannot tackle the disease alone, the government
said in the guidelines that neighborhood committees, village committees and
"other relevant organizations" and individuals who promote AIDS-prevention
awareness should receive encouragement and support.
NGO workers have been detained in the past and still must operate
clandestinely on projects as harmless as delivering money and toys.
But in a sign the government is still uncomfortable with giving NGOs too much
power, the guidelines do not spell out how local governments should support NGOs
and what actions against them are not allowed.
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