Targeting treble zero
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China Daily, December 1, 2011
HIV/AIDS is not just a medical issue, it is also a social issue.
To prevent the spread of the disease people must not only be aware of the virus and its channels of transmission, but also sensitive to the needs of those who have unfortunately contracted it.
Between 2011 and 2015, World AIDS Days will share the single theme: "Getting to Zero".
That is zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination.
This is a tough challenge, as poor awareness permits the disease to spread and inadequate medical responses, from precaution to treatment, make it nearly impossible to prevent AIDS-related deaths.
There have been about 48,000 new infections and more than 20,000 AIDS-related deaths reported across the country so far this year.
Meanwhile, there is still widespread prejudice against those infected with the virus.
True, there are worse scenarios in other parts of the world. And there have been frequent reports of advances in possible vaccines and cures. But we must not allow negligence and false optimism to rob us of the will to act.
We cannot afford to let the vicious circle spiral on. Not just because of the existing 780,000 estimated to have contracted HIV/AIDS, but also because the country's mammoth population means there is the potential for the situation to get worse rather than better if we fail to effectively control the spread of the virus.
Before any truly effective cure appears, prevention will remain the most reliable approach if we want to even get close to zero HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.
So it is essential to expand the prevention and control network, beginning with "effective intervention measures" for 90 percent of high-risk communities, as Vice-Premier Li Keqiang has proposed.
But there is no shortcut that will get us to zero. Our actions must encompass the all-round prevention, active treatment, and elimination of discrimination that the government has prescribed.
The reported drop in the number of new HIV infections through blood transfusions and drug use are evidence that government intervention and public awareness campaigns are working.
But the latest pattern of the spread of the pandemic, the reported rise in sexually transmitted HIV among college students and senior citizens, calls for further and more targeted government efforts and public awareness campaigns.
Meanwhile, getting to zero means efforts must be made, not only to make everyone aware of the virus and its channels of transmission, but also the needs of those who have unfortunately contracted HIV, so that we can also attain zero discrimination.
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