This city reported a record number of new HIV
infections last year, according to the municipal public health
administration.
There were 718 HIV infections last year, and 53 HIV
patients developed AIDS. The number of infections represents a 54
percent increase over the previous year and a record.
Despite the higher figures, the incidence rate of the
disease in Shanghai is still lower than the national average, said
Cai Wei, vice director of the municipal public health
administration.
Shanghai reported its first
HIV infection in 1987. Since then, 2,313 infections had been
reported by the end of 2006. One hundred people have
died.
Cai attributed the increase to a variety of factors
present in the city, including the sex trade and drug addiction.
Health authorities have been working to combat the disease, but
many underground businesses offering sex services continue to
operate in the shadows, making it difficult to compile accurate
data.
Health authorities have been working with police to
shed light on such businesses. And Shanghai is planning to
strengthen its public health system under a three-year plan. The
city is also slated to open more methadone clinics for drug
users.
"Shanghai is like other larger cities in east China,
which have been reporting more HIV transmissions through sexual
intercourse in recent years," said an official surnamed Zhuang from
the city's disease control center.
"All government departments should be involved,"
Zhuang said. "HIV is not just an infectious disease, it is a social
problem, and fighting it will take coordination from all
departments, from legal and educational bodies, to the women's
federation and border inspectors."
The city's recently published five-year plan against
HIV/AIDS emphasizes government intervention and education. It
requires 90 percent of government officials to be trained in how to
deal with the disease and calls for most citizens and migrants to
receive some sort of education about preventing HIV/AIDS and blood
safety.
Sexually transmitted diseases are becoming
increasingly common in Shanghai. In March alone, the city reported
935 syphilis cases, accounting for more than a quarter of the new
cases of serious infectious diseases in the city.
Health authorities operate three hotlines dealing with
HIV/AIDS prevention. They provide information about the disease,
expert advice about prevention and medical advice for infected
patients.
"The hotlines are effective in spreading information
and helping intervention," Zhuang said. "The treatment of AIDS is
covered by the city's medical insurance system."
He added that people who are not covered by the system
can receive free medication if they apply.
(China Daily April 14,
2007)
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