| An estimated 700,000 people are believed to be living with HIV in China but it is difficult to gauge the full extent of the epidemic because many cases are unreported and testing is not yet widespread.
Most of China’s HIV cases are among vulnerable groups such as injecting drug users, sex workers and men who have sex with men. But there is concern that the epidemic is spreading from these key groups to the general population, including women and children. Many of those living with HIV are people from some of China’s poorest areas, where stigma and discrimination are rife.
To stem the spread of HIV, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) aims to expand its work nationwide over the next three years. The programme aims to prevent further HIV infection, expand care and support, reduce stigma and discrimination, and build the capacity of volunteers and staff.
British Red Cross work in China
The British Red Cross is supporting this programme along with other National Societies from the Red Cross Red Crescent Global Alliance on HIV.
From 2002 to 2005 the British Red Cross, with funding from GlaxoSmithKline, supported two programmes in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in the far north west of China, and Yunnan in the south. Activities included: youth peer education for injecting drug users; developing self-care workshops for people living with HIV; and building the capacity of the RCSC. Work in Xinjiang continued under separate funding until 2007.
In 2008, in partnership with Land Rover G4 Challenge, the British Red Cross aims to expand its support to three southwestern provinces – returning to Yunnan, and adding Guangxi and Guizhou. The programme will include:
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