A relief center for pregnant girls is to be built by the end of this month in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

According to the Xi'an Health Bureau, the center will provide abortions, healthcare and counseling and guidance services to pregnant girls under the age of 16. The center will be part of Xi'an Hospital for Mother and Children.

According to the bureau's statistics, some 46,000 abortions were performed by official medical bodies last year. Many of those treated were young girls who gave false names and ages. "The special aid center for girls will ensure privacy and provide both proper psychological and physiological treatment," said Liu Lu, a bureau official.

(Chinese Business View May 23, 2007))