Twenty-three students from 18 African countries graduated from a course on China's control and prevention of AIDS and received their diplomas in Beijing on Friday.

 

The students, all health officials and experts, conducted surveys on the AIDS situation in China, studied the national management scheme on control and prevention, and the progress made with traditional Chinese medicine in treating AIDS.

 

They also interviewed AIDS patients for first hand information, said a source with the Ministry of Commerce, which sponsored the program.

 

Abderrahmane Ould Mohamedoune, a health official from Mauritania, said the program offered "a good opportunity" for African countries to learn about China's efforts on the control and prevention of AIDS.

 

"The experience that China obtained in the work to control and prevent AIDS is extremely valuable," Mohamedoune said.

 

The program was an important part of China-African exchanges and cooperation in public healthcare, said the ministry source.

 

By the end of August, China had invited 130 African officials and experts to study the control and prevention of AIDS and exchanged experience in combating the disease.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2006)