Aiming at improving the public awareness of Hepatitis B, a man and a woman handed out flyers to bystanders and asked for their hugs on Sunday afternoon in Zhengzhou, the capital of central China's Henan Province.

The man, Lei Chuang, is a senior student from Zhejiang University, and the woman Zhang Wen comes from south China's Guangxi.

They are both Hepatitis B carriers. Although not sick from the virus they carry, they're nevertheless victims of the virus.

Zhang Wen was forced to live in an isolated dorm room in her university years. Her Hepatitis B carrier status was publicly announced on the campus. One of her fellow students even told her in face, "You're carrying Hepatitis B virus, don't share meals with us." After her graduation, Hepatitis B proved to be a continuing hindrance to her career. Lei Chuang was about to begin his postgraduate study, but was turned down after the research institution found out he's a Hepatitis B carrier during a mandatory physical examination.

During the New Year holidays, Zhang Wen and Lei Chuang were invited to Zhengzhou to participate in a forum on public health. In their free time, they decided to do something about the discrimination Hepatitis B carriers often suffer.

Lei Chuang made a banner proclaiming 'End the discrimination against Hepatitis B carriers, building a harmonious society'. Zhang Wen's banner was more startling, 'Hepatitis B virus won't transmit through day-to-day interactions, such as hugging. I'm a Hepatitis B carrier. Will you give me a hug?'

'I would!' said university student Liu Yi. After hugging Zhang Wen, she felt hugging was being not close enough. 'Sis, may I give you a kiss?' she asked and kissed Zhang Wen on her cheek.

"There are three major ways of transmitting Hepatitis B - vertical transmission from mother to child, blood transfusions and sexual contact. It's similar to how HIV virus is transmitted," said Liu Ying, who volunteered to educate bystanders on Hepatitis B. One foreigner hugged Zhang Wen after reading her flyer.

Zhang Wen especially wanted youth children to hug her, but some of their parents did not share her wish. The first child she asked was dragged away by her parents without saying a word after reading her banner.

The second encounter was a better one for her. The next child she met was not only knowledgeable about Hepatitis B but, in fact, went with his doctor mother on a trip to the countryside to educate villagers about the virus. 'Sis, may I hug you?' asked the boy after their conversation.

Zhang and Lei had asked 101 bystanders, 82 of which accepted their hugs. "It's better than I thought," said Lu Jun, a leading Chinese anti-discrimination activist and administrator of an Internet Hepatitis B carrier support forum. He attended the promotional event in Zhengzhou to show his support.

According to Lu Jun, there are more than a hundred million Hepatitis B carriers in China. A report by the China Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control shows 37.5% of respondents were unwilling to work and dine with Hepatitis B carriers and 55.36% were unwilling to start a family with a Hepatitis B carrier.

"We were worried most people won't accept hugs from Hepatitis B carriers. We're moved by Zhengzhou residents' kindness and understanding," Lu Jun said.

(CRI January 6, 2009)