Support of China's fight against HIV and AIDS a top priority

Beijing, 1 December 2008 – UNICEF will continue its support of China's efforts to control the AIDS epidemic and mitigate its impact on children and young people, UNICEF China Representative Dr. Yin Yin Nwe said on China Central Television's World AIDS Day special programme which was aired today.

As part of China's advocacy campaign, state-owned CCTV televised the evening gala "Red Ribbon – Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise," on CCTV Channel 1, which covers over 95% of China's 1.3 billion population.

The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "Leadership" which stresses the significant advances achieved by strong and committed leadership in response to HIV. The overall purpose of the World AIDS Campaign from 2005 to 2010 is to ensure that leaders and decision makers deliver on their promises on AIDS.

The event was co-organized by the ministries of Health, Education and Civil Affairs, the State Council AIDS Working Committee Office, All-China Women's Federation, UNICEF, UNAIDS, the Global Fund and other stakeholders.

"We in UNICEF look forward to supporting the government, cooperating with the government, in its progress towards achieving the national goals for HIV and AIDS, particularly for children and young people, which are part of China's commitment towards the Millennium Development Goals and the UN Special Session on AIDS." Dr Nwe was quoted as saying.

As the world's most populous country, China is one of the major fronts in the global fight against AIDS. According to a joint estimation of the Ministry of Health, UNAIDS and WHO, there are 700,000 Chinese estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2007.

Like in rest of the world, AIDS is affecting children and young people in China. The estimated number of children living with HIV and infected through Mother to Child Transmission has reached 7,000 in 2007. At the end of 2005, it was estimated by UNICEF and academic institutions that there were approximately 140,000 children who had lost one or both parents to AIDS and 500,000 children living in families with parents who were infected with HIV.

"I have been very impressed because in UNICEF's work with the government of China, the government has really scaled up a tremendous amount and is really making a very positive impact on children affected by AIDS and young people affected by AIDS." Dr Nwe noticed.

"I have seen HIV positive mothers delivering healthy babies, being able to lead normal, happy lives, and also being empowered to earn their living; I have seen children who lost their parents to AIDS being able to go to school, regain their self-confidence and also tell us their dreams; I have also seen young people, empowered with the knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention, and share this knowledge with their peers and in the process watch their own growth." She said.

Advocacy by UNICEF and other partners for Chinese children has contributed to the child component of the major national AIDS policy called "Four Frees and One Care", which provided free schooling for orphans, free prevention of mother-to-child-transmission services, free AIDS testing to all, and free medicine for people living with AIDS.

The Government, with support from UNICEF and other UN partners, also joined UN's global campaign "Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS" in 2006 by launching the Chinese Campaign on AIDS Prevention among Children and Young people, to put children and young people at front and centre of the national AIDS agenda.

"I hope the whole society - government sectors, families, and communities will take the lead to go ahead of the epidemic and keep our promise for a better world free of HIV/AIDS." Dr. Yin Yin Nwe said in her office in Beijing.