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Interview: China setting HIV/AIDS example: UNAIDS chief

Xinhua, May 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

A senior UN official on Tuesday praised the measures China has taken in HIV/AIDS prevention, saying China has set a "very good example".

"We have seen a lot of progress in China," said Michel Sidibe, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS) in an exclusive interview with Xinhua while on a visit to China.

Sidibe praised Chinese leaders' engagement in fighting HIV/AIDS and reducing the stigma and discrimination against infected people.

A few years ago, people in China were scared to talk about HIV/AIDS, but now the Chinese government is committed to financing civil movements, he said.

"Today we can see more infected people on treatment and more reduction of new infections in China," Sidibe added.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday that the central government will sponsor the establishment of an HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention fund in which social organizations will participate.

Sidibe voiced appreciation for the Chinese government's support to social organizations on epidemic control, saying the UNAIDS will build a stronger relationship with China in the social sector.

"China is becoming more and more global," he said, labelling China's support to West African countries in combating Ebola "very impressive".

The health chief said he hoped China would share with other countries its experience in epidemic control, especially its efficiency in allocation of resources and implementation.

As the UN is leading all member states in hammering out the post-2015 development agenda, which will focus on sustainable development in the next 15 years, Sidibe said the UNAIDS hopes to use this opportunity to quicken the pace of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by adopting its "90-90-90" target.

The target aims to achieve the "90-90-90" goal by 2020 and end the spread of the HIV by 2030.

It refers to three key steps that are essential to better health and care for HIV-positive people and to limiting new infections, including 90 percent of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status; 90 percent of people who know their HIV-positive status being in treatment; and 90 percent of people in treatment with suppressed viral loads.

He also urged more efforts to address issues in susceptible communities including the immigrant population, sex workers, prison inmates, men having sex with men and drug users.

"If we don't reach those people and bring them dignity, the sustainable development goal will be empty," he said.

Mark Dybul, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said the agency's partnership with China was "wonderful".

The Global Fund "is developing a new strategic partnership with China," he said while also on a China visit. China can offer the world its expertise, and productive and technical capacity in combating pandemics, Dybul added. Endi