Condoms to be made more widely available (China Daily) Updated: 2004-07-31 00:37
China is launching a campaign to popularize the use of condoms as a tool to
prevent the spread of AIDS.
Starting on Monday, August 1, condoms will be provided at public and
recreation places in regions such as Beijing and East China's Jiangsu Province.
Sponsored by six ministries, the campaign aims to control and prevent the
spread of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and other sexually
transmitted diseases.
Departments of health at all levels are responsible for public education on
AIDS and the use of the condoms.
Official statistics show China has an estimated 840,000 HIV carriers and
about 80,000 AIDS patients. Experts said the actual figure could be much higher
than that because sometimes it is hard to register all these people.
If the situation is not controlled by 2010, the number of HIV carriers in
China could hit 12 million, officials said.
Although the prevalence is still low, there has been an accelerated increase,
and the high prevalence in some regions and high mortality rate among certain
groups has made the Chinese Government realize the magnitude of the peril.
The government has taken measures to control and prevent the spread of AIDS,
including popularizing the spread of condoms.
Condoms are one of the most effective ways to prevent AIDS, experts said.
In Beijing, a number of condom vending machines will be set up at
universities, while in hotels, bars, and in regions inhabited by migrants,
condoms will be provided directly or through condom vending machines, the
Municipal Bureau of Health said.
In Haikou, capital of South China's Hainan Province, the municipal government
has demanded co-operation from the departments of health, public security and
tourism to popularize the use of condoms.
Vending machines will be set up at hotels, bars, colleges and in regions
inhabited by migrants, while free pamphlets and posters will also be widely
employed for AIDS-related education.
