When Thomas Cai was counseling HIV/AIDS patients at Guangzhou No. 8 Hospital in 2001, he founded AIDS Care China, never dreaming it would expand to four provinces with 32 full-time staff covering 2,500 patients in five years.

Based in Guangzhou, AIDS Care China operates care centers near hospitals and clinics offering HIV/AIDS patients and their families free accommodation and dining services, and counseling.

The organization also offers direct employment to those living with HIV/AIDS and provides training and education, enabling them to participate in AIDS prevention and awareness programs.

"AIDS Care China promotes the concept that people living with HIV/AIDS should not isolate themselves in fear of being pitied," says Cai, director of AIDS Care China. "Rather, they should face the wider realities and embrace society, and mobilize more resources to fight AIDS."

On the World AIDS Day this year, the organization received the Red Ribbon Award and a US$5,000 grant from the United Nations for its crucial community-based approach to creating a dialogue between the government health authorities and people living with HIV/AIDS. It was the first time a Chinese non-governmental organization had received such high-profile global recognition for HIV/AIDS care.

"The Red Ribbon Award not only recognizes this outstanding group, but it also recognizes the crucial role communities can play with local authorities at a crucial time for the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China," said Khalid Malik, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) representative in China, at the award ceremony on Dec. 1 in Beijing.

Indeed, China has seen a more active grass-roots organizations in HIV/AIDS prevention and care in recent years. Over 50 registered non-governmental organizations working nationwide have HIV/AIDS programs and dozens of volunteer groups dedicated to AIDS care in community.

"The government has recognized the active and important role of grass-roots organizations in HIV/AIDS prevention and control," said Chen Xiaohong, Vice Minister of Health. "Government efforts alone are not enough if China is to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS."

Figures from the Health Ministry show the number of recorded HIV/AIDS cases rose by almost 30 percent to 183,733 in the first 10 months of this year, from 144,089 cases at the end of last year.

Health experts say actual cases are likely to be more and both the government and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 650,000 Chinese were living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2005.

"Grass-roots organizations should play a more important role, especially in the advocacy awareness campaign, care and treatment in the community," said Dr. Henk Bekedam, WHO representative in China.

Care and prevention in the community should begin with preparation of the community by providing HIV/AIDS education and information so people know about and understand the disease, says Cai.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2006)