Over 140 family planning officials from seven provinces attended
a two-day training seminar in Zhengzhou City, capital of the
central province of Henan,
aiming to learn ways to use their population work experience and
grassroots network to help fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.
"I used to think AIDS was not our domain, but the training has
changed my mind. I think we should fight against it and moreover
take the initiative," said Yang Fujian from Hubei
provincial population and family planning commission, also in
central China.
The Initiative and Training Workshop for Population and Family
Planning Sectors in Global Fund HIV/AIDS Program Areas ran from
Monday to Tuesday, and family planning officials from 58 counties
and districts received training on basic awareness, prevention and
control measures, condom use programs and how to care for and
support people living with HIV/AIDS.
Officials and medical experts from the National Population and
Family Planning Commission (NPFPC), Global Fund HIV/AIDS China
program office, WHO and
Center for Disease Prevention and Control shared their knowledge in
the workshops.
Ma Yugen, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment expert and one of
the trainers, said China has a nationwide grassroots network of
population and family planning workers ideally placed to help
HIV/AIDS education, monitoring, consulting and assisting those with
HIV.
He said the participation of the NPFPC would help the general
public protect themselves and remove stigma by increasing
awareness.
"The biggest change the training has made on me is in
understanding that HIV-positive people not only need material
support, but more care and understanding from the public," said
Yang.
NPFPC deputy director Zhao Baige said combining genitourinary
health, family planning services and AIDS prevention and control is
international practice, but efforts made so far are only a
beginning and family planning commissions need to fully utilize the
network they have.
(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2005)