Quiet sexual revolution forces Beijing to admit dangers of Aids
Meetings and more funds - but patients seeking talks with premier are detained
- The Guardian,
- Friday April 18 2008
- Article history
Residents flock to get free condoms at a square in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu province. Photograph: Reuters
When HIV patients in Hebei heard the Chinese premier was visiting they thought their chance had come. For years they had fought in vain for compensation from hospitals which they allege spread the virus through blood transfusions.
"They knew that premier Wen [Jiabao] liked to listen to the ordinary people's voices, so they wanted to tell him about their problems," said Jiang Tianyong, a lawyer for their families.
Instead, 11 patients and relatives were detained by police as they sought Wen on his visit to Shahe, in the south of the province. A week and a half later eight are still being held. Police have refused to tell Jiang what charges could be lodged, but described it as a case of "national security".
The incident says a lot about China's fight against HIV. After years of inaction and denial, the government has begun to address the problem. High profile meetings between HIV patients and political leaders are one solution, intended to address the stigma and educate the public about the issue.
Just as significant is the hefty increase in funding for prevention programmes and antiretrovirals for patients. There are public information films and the first strategy addressing the needs of men who have sex with men - one of the highest risk groups.
"There's been a lot of change," said Wan Yanhai, director of the Aizhixing Institute and one of the country's leading Aids/HIV activists. "This generation of leaders - Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao and Wu Yi - have met people with Aids. They have increased the national budget, opened up to international donors and they tolerate some civil society involvement in provision."
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