Originally published July 17 2005
China faces its growing AIDS problems
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The International Herald Tribunes has a New York Times article about efforts in China to reduce the numbers of AIDS infections, which comes after years of denial and arrests of AIDS activists.
But government regulations say that only drug users who have dropped out of official detoxification centers can qualify for the methadone program.
At the Gejiu Women's Center, which also receives American support, prostitutes receive education and training in HIV prevention and the use of condoms, as well as counseling on changing professions.
Just as health officials are starting to reach out to prostitutes and drug users, officials in Yunnan have been cracking down.
AIDS workers worry that a recent provincewide sweep of drug users will drive HIV-infected people underground and increase, rather than reduce, the broader public health risk.
In one widely reported incident, the police burst into a treatment center in a southern city and arrested drug users meeting with health workers.
"For AIDS control in Yunnan Province, we have a long, hard journey and have to overcome many contradictions," said Chen Juemin, director of the provincial health bureau.
Not too long ago China denied it had an AIDS problem and tried to cover up a blood-selling program that had infected untold thousands of farmers.
Even now, the police in some cities still arrest and harass AIDS activists or try to conceal the presence of the disease.
But places like Gejiu are starting to carry out the central government's new policies, including offering needle exchanges and making condoms available in hotel rooms.
"There are still many countries where this is against the law," said Peter Piot, executive director of Unaids, speaking of the needle exchanges and the methadone program.
They chose Gejiu because a handful of the projects were being financed with international money, including some from the United States.
Unlike some other provinces, Yunnan has welcomed outside help.
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