©InfoAn estimated 740,000 people are believed to be living with HIV in China (UNAIDS global report 2010), but it is difficult to gauge the full extent of the epidemic because many cases are unreported and testing is not yet widespread.
It is estimated that 107,000 Chinese have developed AIDS (UNAIDS progress report 2010). Those most at risk of infection are injecting drug users (IDUs) and their sexual partners. Although the general population prevalence of HIV is 0.1 per cent, that figure rises to 9.3 per cent among IDUs in the capital (UNAIDS global report 2010).
Other groups vulnerable to HIV in China are 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.
The Red Cross Society of China's HIV programme works 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 has been supporting this programme for many years and in 2008 expanded its support to three southwestern provinces – returning to Yunnan, and adding Guangxi and Guizhou. The programme includes:
- reducing stigma and discrimination
- training Red Cross staff and volunteers in HIV work
- expanding care and support for people living with HIV and their families
- HIV prevention through peer education targeting high-risk groups such as injecting drug users, sex workers and gay men
Read Xiaoyan's story: reaching sex workers in China