中国农村治安暴露4大问题 部分地区卖淫嫖娼猖獗

中新网11月7日电 据中国公安部消息，公安部党委委员、副部长刘金国在11月6日召开的中央综治委2006年第二次全体会议上表示，当前中国农村治安问题呈现出暴力犯罪突出、侵财犯罪多发、部分地区社会丑恶现象蔓延、制贩危险物品严重等"四大特点"。

刘金国指出，目前中国农村犯罪案件日趋突出，杀人、伤害等暴力犯罪案件高于城市。今年1月至9月，全国农村地区共发生杀人案件8031起、伤害案件5.9万起，均高于城市，其中不少是"民转刑"案件，一次杀死数人的恶性案件屡有发生。

其次是盗窃、抢劫等侵财犯罪多发。今年1月至9月，全国农村共发生盗窃粮食、牲畜、生产资料等侵财案件88万起，占总数的31%。

刘金国还指出，目前在中国部分农村，一些赌博活动特别是"六合彩"赌博蔓延迅速，小发廊、小歌厅等场所卖淫嫖娼活动猖獗，由此滋生不少社会问题。

此外，在一些农村和矿区，非法制造炸药等问题也比较突出，给社会治安和安全生产带来重大隐患。

Four Public Safety Problems in Rural China, Prostitution Rampant in Some Areas

According to the information released from China Ministry of Public Security Bureau, Mr. Liu Jin Guo, Deputy Minister, pointed out in the second plenary meeting of the Central Commision on the Comprehensive Administration of Public Safety in 2006, that the rural public safety at present is characterized by prominent violent crimes, frequent crimes against properties, prevalence of social evils in parts of the country, and serious phenomenon of making and selling of dangerous goods.

Mr. Liu Jin Guo announced that the rural crime rates are on a sharp rise, with higher incidences than in the urban areas. From January to September 2006, a total of 8,031 murder cases and 59,000 harm cases occurred in rural areas, a crime rate higher than those in the urban areas. Of these many are 'civil-turned-into-criminal' cases. Occurrence of severe criminal cases where several people were killed at once are not uncommon .

Following crimes include abundant theft and robbery cases. From January to September, 880,000 property-violation cases such as stealing of grains, animals-husbandry and production materials were filed, accounting for 31% of the total cases.

Mr. Liu also stated that, in part of rural China, gambling activities, in particular the underground "lottery" (Liuhecai) have spread rapidly, alongside the increasingly rampant prostitution in venues such as small hair saloons and KTVs, have led to many social problems.

In addition, the illegal production of dynamite in some rural and mining areas are very serious, inflicting significant risks to the public safety administration and safe production.

Beijing reports 633 more HIV cases this year

BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Beijing health authorities have recorded 633 people new HIV cases so far this year, bringing the capital's total to 3,462.

The 633 cases included 130 local residents, 491 migrant workers and 12 foreigners, Jin Dapeng, director of Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, said on Monday.

High-risk groups, including sex workers and drug addicts, are still the major source of the HIV carriers, said the official.

Bureau figures show 39.2 percent of the drug addicts in Beijing are infected with the disease and 26.7 percent of sex workers are HIV positive.

Jin said Beijing has set up six specialized clinics providing HIV carriers with medicines, primarily methadone, and treatment in its six districts.

Needle exchange centers were established in most of Beijing's urban districts and most hotels in the city provided free condoms, Jin added.

As of October, about 185,000 migrant workers from 386 large construction sites in Beijing and 51,000 people working in the city's entertainment places had received AIDS prevention education,
he said.

Beijing saw 679 more HIV cases in 2005, up 35.26 percent than 2004.

According to Ministry of Health, China had an estimated 650,000 HIV carriers, including 75,000 AIDS patients, by the end of last year.

Ministry of Health Releases National HIV/AIDS update

The MOH announced today on the state of the national AIDS epidemic: The number of reported HIV-positive people increased, and the conditions remain for an increasingly serious AIDS epidemic.

The Ministry reported that:

1. There was an increase in the number of HIV infections reported. By 31 October 2006, the cumulative number of reported HIV infections (nationally) was 183,733. Among these, there were 40,667 AIDS cases and 12,464 deaths.

2. There are three transmission routes. From January till October 2006, among the reported infections, drug users (IDU) and sexual transmission accounted for 37% and 28% respectively, blood transmission accounted for 5.1% (these may be infections from the 1990's that are only now being reported), and mother-to-child transmission accounted for 1.4%.

3. Increased sexual transmission. Surveillance testing data reveals that the HIV infection rate among commercial sex workers was 0.02% in 1996, but that at 9 surveillance sites for commercial sex workers in 2005, the infection rate was higher than 1.0%. Surveys among Male homosexuals reveal that at present the rate of HIV infection among this population is between 1% and 4%. In some high prevalence areas, pre-natal and pre-marital testing reveals that the HIV infection rate is already higher than 1%, a relatively high infection rate.

4. Conditions remain for an expanded AIDS epidemic. Surveillance data reveals that at present, the rate of condom use among commercial sex workers is 38.7%, and that the rate of needle sharing among injecting drug users is 50.8%. In addition, the mobility of HIV-positive people, the large-scale mobility of large populations in China, and the increased rate of sexual infections are all important factors in the continued spread of HIV/AIDS

All county-level and above hospitals in Xinjiang to set up free AIDS counseling

Urumqi - Reporters learned from the Xinjiang Department of Health that after today, all public hospitals at the county-level and above will provide a free AIDS counseling service to the public, and each county will designate one hospital specifically for AIDS treatment.

The current "Autonomous Region AIDS Clinical Treatment Management Strategy" is still implementing standards for AIDS clinical treatment work in Xinjiang.

According to this document, from now on, the assigned AIDS treatment centers in Xinjiang will be divided into hospitals responsible for anti-retroviral treatment, hospitals responsible for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (including some bigger country-level hospitals with integrated Obstetric and Maternal and Child Health Departments), and clinics. Together they will undertake AIDS Voluntary Counseling and Testing, Behavioral Intervention, and AIDS Prevention Education. Anytime a new AIDS patient is discovered, he or she must be referred in a timely fashion to one of the designated AIDS hospitals. After the patient has been treated and stabilized at one of these sites, he or she is then referred to local-level community clinic for continuation of care.

Currently there are 10 or so formal AIDS VCT clinics in Xinjiang, all of which are found in provincial-level hospitals. These counseling clinics provide legal counseling and medical information free of charge, and after today will begin to launch an AIDS testing service as well.

Study Shows rate of HIV infection amongst Beijing’s gay population over 3%

XINHUA-Beijing- On 29th November, a working group of the China CDC's NCAIDS issued the findings of an investigative report on 526 members of Beijing's gay population. The results showed an HIV infection rate of more than 3% amongst Beijing's gays.

According to a report in the Beijing Daily on 30th November, researchers spent half a year conducing in-depth research into the lives of the male gay population in Beijing. Of the 526 men who have sex with men recruited by the team, around 46% had relatively high levels of education and a stable work or study environment; 10.6% had been involved in a commercial sex transaction in the past six months; more than half had a stable male sex partner; only around 20% of the MSM were able to maintain the use of condoms and other safety measures during each sexual encounter; close of a third of the men engaged in bisexual sex activities.

The study shows that as the majority of MSM find it hard to maintain safer sexual practices, they are increasingly becoming at high risk of being infected by and spreading HIV. Estimates suggest there are around 300,000 MSM in Beijing.

1st December is World AIDS Day. On the 29th, a study was launched by the Ministry of Health, the CDC and academic from CASS into the health situation of MSM and their awareness of AIDS. The project will begin next year - five key cities will be chosen every year and intervention actions such as STI and AIDS treatment and care will be launched.

China will improve AIDS prevention and care at reform through labor camps

While speaking in Baoding in Hebei province on 1st December, the Deputy Minister for the Chinese Judiciary, Chen Xunqiu said education through labour camps have a huge responsibility in halting the spread of AIDS. He requested effective measures be taken to raise the standards of AIDS prevention and care work in education through labour camps.

1st December is the 19th World AIDS Day. Chen Xunqiu said the number of people in drug-rehabilitation type education through labour camps now reached 130,000, comprising 58% of all people undergoing education through labour - while drug use is a major method of the spread of AIDS in China. According to tests, there is a definite proportion of people with HIV in education through labour detention centres and the epidemic is quite serious.

This year, the Chinese government issued an AIDS Prevention and Care law which clearly states: public security and judicial administrative bodies should take appropriate measures to stop the spread of HIV when they come across people with HIV who are in detention, serving sentences in prison, receiving education through detention according to law, being forced to undergo drug rehabilitation or undergoing education through labour. This is the legal basis for AIDS prevention and care work for prisons and education through labour venues.

Chen Xunqiu said prisons and education through labour agencies across the country must further strengthen the management of people with HIV, work on their aid and treatment and resolutely stamp out the spread of HIV within the institution. At the same time they must stress care and treatment and thoroughly protect the lawful rights of infected people.

China had an accumulated total of 180,000 people with HIV up till 31 October 2006, and the disease is spreading from high risk groups to the general population. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is the same as last years, "Stop AIDS, Keep the promise"

Guangdong’s new drug rehab method attracts attention of Justice Ministry

Judicial Minister Chen Xunqiu and Labor Education Director General Li Rulin were accompanied yesterday by Guangdong Judicial Minister Chen Weixiong, vice-Judicial Minister He Mingqing, Labor Education Directors from 14 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, and labor education law enforcement officers who over see drug rehabilitation to visit Foshan's Three Waters Drug Rehabilitation Center to learn and borrow from the Center's experience in getting set up.

Drug Quitters

"Here, quitting drugs gives you a feeling of accomplishment"

"My family and friends can't trust me anymore. They only allow me carry a little bit of cash with me; they're afraid that as soon as I have any surplus money, I'll go and buy drugs." Wei Zhong (not his real name), from a small town outside Dongguan city, told writers that in his own village, he didn't need to work and had extra money, and he found his plentiful life to be extremely boring. In search of a more exciting kind of "enjoyment," he developed a drug addiction. The result was that things just got more out of hand. As his health steadily deteriorated, he was sent multiple time by family members to voluntary detoxification, was sent thrice by law enforcement to mandatory detoxification and twice to a labor re-education facility. Of the five "old friends" from his village with whom he used to use drugs, three have died from drug use and one has AIDS.

"I don't want to die! I still want to go to Beijing to see the 2008 Olympics," a wide-eyed Wei Zhong told reporters. Through his own labor he has earned the money to go to Beijing next year to see the Olympics. Not long ago, after obtaining education about quitting drugs, he chose Three Waters Drug Rehabilitation Center. "Life here has rules, you can come and go freely, every week has psychological counseling and diverse education about refusing drugs, our labor is compensated, we have a feeling of accomplishment about ourselves, and most importantly, we can stay far away from our former drug-using friends."

"My wife wanted me to come," says Zhen Hua (not his real name) from Guangdong. Laughing, he told reporters that he came out of a rehabilitation center on the last day of this past year. At that time his wife, who came to meet him, had heard of a new method of drug rehabilitation. They made a shortcut to Three Waters to check it out, and she decided right away that her drug-free husband should go to the Center. She signed a one-year agreement with the Center. Zhen Hua spent three days with his 80-year old mother for New Year's, and then on the 4th, he reported to the center. "Returning home, I can't find a good job, and my family is always worried that I will start using drugs again." Shen Hua says he hopes that through a year of hard work, he can use the stipend he earns by working to support his mother, and change the negative image of him that his children carry in their hearts.

Labor Education Bureau takes responsibility for people

"Next year employment to be arranged for 3,000 people"

The Guangdong Commissioner of Labor Re-education Xiang Heqi told reporters that the work and set-up of Three Waters Rehabilitation Center, one of eight pilot sites implemented country-wide in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, follows the Judicial Administration's document "On Suggestions for Supporting the Establishment by Detoxification Centers of Rehabilitation Center Pilot Sites." By the end of 2008, it plans to set up a rehabilitation center that can provide rehabilitation and employment for 3,000 people.

Xiang Heqi said that the number of drug-users in Guangdong is in the hundreds of thousands. Drug prohibition work must start by reducing the number of addicts who re-lapse. Drug rehabilitation centers are a new method of drug rehab. The main targets for these centers are people who have already completed their stay at a drug detoxification center, and voluntarily decide to remain at a rehabilitation center to continue their recuperation and participate in professional and technical training, as well as various other people who voluntarily go to the center for rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation centers use the experience of the 100% successful quitting methods utilized in detox centers to provide education on matters such as psychological health, behavioral modification, and occupation in order to increase patients' awareness and motivation to abstain from drugs and help them learn the skills to do so.

Additionally, the centers use land resources to set up base sites for growing plants and flowers, and also for raising chickens, ducks, geese, and fish, which are sold along with grain products and oil. They have established a supermarket, and also set up a service company for everyday-use products. These programs allow people staying in the center to get some practice, develop a particular skill, and improve their ability to make a living. According to labor laws, those living in the center sign a labor agreement and are compensated according to the national standard for laborers.

New procedures to clean up drug pricing

CHINA'S top pricing authority will tighten medicine pricing procedures in drug manufacturing from March 1 to raise transparency and as an anti-corruption measure in an industry widely considered to be riddled with rampant bribery.

The National Development and Reform Commission issued an interim regulation yesterday that sets out a five-step drug pricing procedure to be followed before setting drug prices:

1. Product cost investigation. Drug price regulators visit drug companies to check the cost of the raw materials for the drug;

2. Expert evaluation. Randomly pick up experts from the drug pricing experts group. The experts evaluate the price under the supervision of the commission's disciplinary unit;

3. Hearing opinions from the public;

4. Group discussion;

5. Group examinations.

Medicine pricing is a sensitive issue because many interest groups are involved, such as drug companies, hospitals, pharmacies and the public. Because the manufacturers and retailers seek larger profits, some inexpensive medicines with beneficial effects have been gradually phased out of the market.

The commission has cut the retail price of thousands of drugs to lower people's medical burdens. However, many drug makers stopped the production of affected drugs and launched new medicines with similar ingredients but at higher prices.

Regulations issued in January mean that drug companies paying bribes can be barred from doing business with Chinese medical institutions. This followed the corruption probe into Zheng Xiaoyu, the former director of the State Food and Drug Administration.

The new rules require at least two medicine price regulators to be present during cost investigations by drug companies. All members of the investigation group must sign off on the investigation result.

All foreigner-related meetings should be arranged through foreign affaires office of the commission.

Medicine price regulators are forbidden from taking money and gifts in any form or receiving invitations for banquets or traveling abroad from drug companies.

Regulators will rotate positions regularly and any leader or staff member who works in the same main position for five years or more will have a rotation.

Before re-pricing, medicine price regulators will communicate with drug companies. The re-pricing plan will seek out public's opinion through the media if possible.

Collective liability for SFDA

The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) will adopt a collective liability system under which officials involved in approving shady drugs will be exposed, a top official said yesterday.

Wu Zhen, SFDA deputy director, said in an online interview posted yesterday on gov.cn that his heart "aches" over the handful of corrupted officials who had tainted the SFDA system.

As Wu made these comments, the SFDA was in the middle of corruption scandal following the downfalls of a several officials because of graft charges.

And the 21st Century Business Herald reported yesterday that Zheng Shangjin, formerly an official with the Zhejiang Provincial Food and Drug Administration, had been detained for corruption.

Public confidence in the country's top food and drug safety watchdog hit a new low in the wake of several food and drug crises that ended up costing dozens of lives last year.

Wu said the SFDA would strengthen its oversight of the drug-approval process by adopting a collective liability system for all people who take part in the approval process.

"The goal is to prevent any single person from abusing his power," Wu said.

He said the SFDA would "leave no stone unturned" during investigations of any illicit activity and make sure that the identities of all parties involved in the approval process for a dangerous drug are announced in public.

Wu denied that the SFDA had suspended granting approval to new drugs amid all the corruption scandals defended the national standard regime by saying that it would weed out substandard drugs.

"Having a single standard is conducive to the supervision of drug safety," he said.

China Anti-AIDS NGO Alliance to be established this year

By our reporter (Zeng Lingqiao) - Under the support of the China-UK "CHARTS" project, the China STI/AIDS Prevention and Control Association is currently setting up the China NGO (Non-government organization) AIDS Prevention and Control Information exchange platform, and plans to establish the China AIDS Prevention and Control NGO Alliance later this year. After it is formed, the NGO Alliance will coordinate China's NGO resources, and will coordinate and make overall plans for NGOs to participate in domestic and international AIDS control programmes, and increase the impact of all Chinese NGO's efforts to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

According to the China STI/AIDS Prevention and Control Association, NGOs have already become an important strength in China's AIDS control work, with the benefit of being charitable in nature, flexible, having direct contact (with people), and being active in the AIDS control community. However, at present the number of NGOs, the human and other material resources available to NGOs in China is insufficient, and the ability to work independently, management system, information exchange and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms could all use improvement. It is urgently needed to work through a unified alliance structure to have a planned adjustment of NGO activities, strengthening of information exchange and sharing, and rational distribution of limited funds, and overall strengthening of NGOs through trainings.

6 Jiangsu patients infected with HIV through blood transfusion

6 Jiangsu patients infected with HIV through blood transfusion (中文)

Wuhu Daily News

2007-07-20

Ten years ago they came to Tongshan County in Jiangsu Province. Their spouses were ill and were receiving blood transfusions at the local hospital, and contracted HIV. Nowadays they are searching for a way to speak up for their rights.

Tongshan Health Bureau Director Zu Guilan arrived in the capital the same day. Facing these AIDS patients is also painful for him. He says Shao Qin and the others were infected in the time before the government issued Methods for Blood Donation; he says, "They are what's left behind of a problem in our society's history."

On June 20th of this year, Tongshan County government came out publicly with a plan to make reparations, but it still fell very short of the demands of AIDS patients. Some big disagreements have occurred between people like Shao Qin and the government as they try to settle what's left over of this problem in their history.

10 years ago: a lively army of blood donors

30-something Shao Qin is one of the six more outspoken people. On July 15th, in an underground hotel near Chongwenmen, she told of her own experience. She was frequently reminded by her fellow villagers: "Lower your voice a little;" they were worried that the hotel owner would know that they had AIDS and wouldn't let them stay in the hotel.

It wasn't until Shao Qin's husband tested positive for HIV in 2004 at Xuzhou Kuangwu Department Hospital that he recalled the blood transfusion he had had eight years earlier. At that time, Mr Shao Qin in a fit of irrationality had swallowed some pesticides, and he was taken to Taishan Township Public Health Clinic. After his stomach had been pumped, the clinic required that he be given a blood transfusion. Shao Qin says that year, living in the low-roofed houses across from the hospital was a army of blood donors. They would usually sit on the steps at the entrance of the hospital waiting for business, and when the doctor encountered a patient that needed a blood transfusion, he would go straight to the hospital entrance and shout, "Someone needs a transfusion."

"One skinny one, and one fat one," Shao Qin remembers clearly. After one phone call from the doctor, two male blood sellers were hurried into the hospital. Without having doing any testing, the doctor put their blood into Shao Qin's body. Shao Qin found out later that the doctor that had advised her to do the blood transfusion had gotten a 50RMB "introduction" fee out of it.

The blood given to Chen Qiang's (a pseudonym) wife and Zhang Xia (also a pseudonym) was also supplied by this group of donators. In the following years, they each discovered that they had been infected with HIV.

"This group of donors was giving blood to five or six hospitals." On the evening of July 16th, the Wu Qiao Public Health Clinic Director Chen Hong said that other than the hospital that should have been getting the blood, they were also responsible for providing blood for Wu Qiao, Dan Ji, and 5 or 6 other hospitals besides. The directors and physicians at those hospitals all knew the phone number of the group's leader, Zhao Shizheng.

Tongshan County Grievance Department Vice-director Zhao Yong said at present there are 10-20 people in Tongshan County who have been infected through blood transfusions. Among those affected are also family members of town government officials and of the directors and doctors at the hospital.

The leader of the donor group, Zhao Shizheng, also contracted HIV and died of AIDS in 2000. The 30 or so people in the group also began to die and the group fell apart.

Court rejects AIDS lawsuits

Only 3 months after Shao Qin's husband diagnosis of AIDS was confirmed, he passed away. Afterwards, Shao Qin went many times to Da Xu's Taishan Public Health Clinic to demand compensation, and met with a great deal of conflict.

In August of 2006, Taishan Health Clinic signed a written statement with Shao Qin agreeing that they would pay her a one-time compensation fee of 10,000 RMB in installments. Although Shao Qin signed her name to this agreement, she was not at all satisfied. "Back then we had no money. We spent more than 80,000 RMB for my husband to see the doctor. I myself am infected and could become sick at any time."

Tongshan County Liuquan township villager Hua Sheng's (pseudonym) wife was also infected through transfusion. in 2006 he lodged a complaint against Liu Quan Township Public Health Clinic at Tong Shan County Peoples' Court.

The case was halfway tried, and then the court notified him that they wouldn't be continuing the hearing. With regards to this, part of the Tong Shan Court Emergency Response Report Regarding the Hearing of AIDS Lawsuits stated; "In accordance with higher authority, cases related to AIDS will no longer be given a hearing, and those already having hearings will not be continued. The cases will be resolved using the funds already earmarked by the government."

Government's unsatisfactory compensation

On June 20, 2007, Tong Shan County started delivering compensation for these AIDS patients. Regarding the resolution of these cases the County government AIDS Prevention Small Working Group Office has issued a compensation standard for "those who have evidentiary proof that in the past they or their spouse or child was infected with HIV as a result of a blood transfusion or blood products from a health care organization in this county."

This document will guarantee all HIV/AIDS patients and their family members just the lowest level of social security available for rural residents. AIDS patients and HIV patients will enjoy 600RMB and 300RMB living stipend per person per month, respectively. AIDS patients will receive a one time grant of 50,000-100,000RMB, and AIDS and HIV patients are given a sympathy gift of 1,000RMB and 300RMB, respectively, at Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.

Who is to solve this historical problem?

"The standard stipulated by the county is considered to be the highest standard in the country; the Ministry of Health also says this has become human nature." Tongshan County Health Bureau Director Zu Guilan says this money is all disbursed from the government's finances, and that it can't sustainably give any money above and beyond that. "Only when the central government comes out with the appropriate policies."

Tongshan County Grievance Department deputy director Zhao Yong says that when you add it all up, it's not a small amount of money; it adequately addresses their fear of any disturbances. "County government officials only get 1000 RMB per month."

Qinghua University AIDS research expert Professor Jing Jun says he believes that because prior to 1998 people were infected because of the hospitals, the government should be the one to pick up the bill. But it should not all be done through the central government, otherwise this will let slip the direct responsibility of the people in the local sites.

NGOs become a new AIDS prevention power in Guangxi: difficulties of “grassroots"

On July 13th, Autonomous Region AIDS Prevention summoned non-governmental organizations (abbreviated NGO) to participate in a discussion meeting on AIDS prevention work. In Guangxi, there are many unknown NGOs operating in different spheres that all quietly deal with AIDS prevention work. "Aidscare China," and "Left hand heaven"…behind each of these beautiful names is a fresh thread of strength for fighting AIDS.

The "Big International Card" initiates high-level cooperation

In the meeting room that day a blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigner was especially eye-catching. The young Frenchman was Dr. Francois Destenabes, who works in the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Guangxi clinic. The backpack he carries is distinctive: printed on it in big letters is "Test Early, Treat Early," as well as the procedure for the voluntary counseling and testing method. He says that every time he goes out, he carries this bag. This way every time people on the street take a look at his bag, they've acquired some knowledge about preventing AIDS.

On December 1st, 2003, MSF in collaboration with the Guangxi Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control set up a combined clinic to provide anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and sexually-transmitted opportunistic infection treatment to HIV/AIDS patients in Nanning city. All of the drugs are imported from abroad, and all treatment costs are assumed by MSF. As of now there are already 824 AIDS patients receiving free ART at their clinic.

According to statistics, there are approximately 30 NGOs like MSF doing AIDS prevention work in Guangxi. Some among these are well-known international NGOs, which for the most part collaborate with government sectors to launch AIDS prevention programs.

The 'China-Australia Project" is another NGO focusing on injecting drug users infected with HIV/AIDS which is subsidized by the Australian government. Under the help of the Public Security and Health Bureaus, they have reduced the AIDS risk associated with intravenous drug use.

One of the steps taken by the "China-Australia Project" is to provide clean needles to drug users. At first this was thought to be absurd, not only by the government, who wouldn't identify itself with the project, but even the family members of the drug users criticized it saying that it abetted drug habits. Project official Huang Ling says that needle exchange is a scientific risk reduction method that has received international approval.

At the same time that big international NGOs are contributing money and effort, "grassroots" NGOs are emerging in large numbers in Guangxi.

In June of 2006, Guangxi opened its first gay health information hotline. Since then, it receives more than twenty calls daily. Callers pour their hearts out over the phone line, and workers who answer the calls deliver information to callers about how to protect their health and prevent AIDS. This is the Liuzhou Tongxin Health Care Working Group's first achievement. They are carrying out male-male sexual contact AIDS prevention work.

Director Xiao Ma said the gay men refer to themselves as "in the closet," because they are very afraid of having their identity exposed and being subjected to discrimination. Under pressure from their families and society, most of them get married, have children and wear "normal outer clothing." But particular sexual preferences cause them to still maintain homosexual practices. Because this behavior is secret, the danger is even greater. HIV/AIDS cases among gay men first appeared in Guangxi last year.

Organizations have already begun to be established, but the problem most grassroots NGOs face is how to continue expanding. The first problem they encounter is the problem of funds. The director of one NGO in Nanning that targets gay men says that aside from setting up hotlines, getting into bars and clubs to educate also requires funds. Currently the majority of grassroots NGOs are relying on their enthusiasm and a feeling of responsibility to carry on through the hard times- for the most part they have no stable source of funds, and lack experience and leadership in fighting for society's financial aid.

Additionally, problems exist for grassroots NGOs as they develop their capabilities and levels of specialization. Liuzhou Tongxin Working Group is currently struggling to find their target population. They believe that at present, the number of gay men who are able to come out and accept education is still too small- finding a way to find more closeted gay men is critical for the expansion of the organization..

Government provides full support

This meeting was the first time that all of the NGOs in Guangxi put their heads together, and everyone enthusiastically discussed ways to work together in the future. Some groups think that all of the NGOs should exchange work plans and experience, in order to avoid overlap and enjoy shared resources. There are other NGOs that hope that the government can set a date to implement training for NGO workers and thus support capacity development.

At that day's meeting, the Autonomous Region AIDS Prevention deputy director Chen Jie expressed that if they want to fight AIDS, they can't do without NGOs. The Guangxi government will continue to provide funds for prevention work, conduct coordination for NGOs to enter new realms and territories, encourage NGOs to expand the scope of their operations and core objectives, and encourage and support more NGOs to take part in prevention work.

An AIDS patient's new life

Xiao Zhang contracted HIV while taking drugs. When the methadone clinic was set up in his area, he became the first person to receive free methadone treatment there. It was there that he could once again pick up what he had longer for in the past.....

Yesterday afternoon drug-user Xiao Zhang (pseudonym) came to his local methadone treatment center. After handling a series of formalities, a cup of 40 milliliters of blue liquid methadone came into his hand. Xiao Zhang tilted his head back, and drank it in one swallow. Unlike the other people who come to take treatment, Xiao Zhang takes methadone for free.

Xiao Zhang is young man not yet 30 years old, not too tall, wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans. He is spirited, and doesn't at all seem like a drug addict. Rubbing his arm, he said: "Since I came to the Center, the needle marks on my arm from the drugs have completely gone away. Now I've gained 10 kilograms, and my body has recovered- there's simply no way to compare it with when I was doing drugs."

When talking about this change, Xiao Zhang's feelings of indebtedness show clearly in his words and manner. 7 or 8 years ago, he unfortunately developed a drug addiction, and he exhausted his family's wealth. Not only did he cause his family to fall into an abyss, he also destroyed his own youth. Even more unfortunate is that one time when he shared a needle, he contracted HIV. When he learned that he had HIV, he gave himself up for hopeless, just idled about all day, and lost all faith in life. He got thinner until he was just skin and bones. He described himself as "like one of those opium addicts on TV"- he didn't look human.

The change started in the second half of last year. After the methadone treatment center was set up, Xiao Zhang came to receive treatment. The workers at the center treated him with smiles, and encouraged him to renew his faith in life. If they ever noticed that he was absent, they would immediately call him and urge him to take his medicine right away. This year, after the center found out that he has HIV, they listed him as a target for assistance, and from July 1st, he was exempted from 3 months worth of medication costs. Xiao Zhang said since starting to use drugs, when other people saw him they would try to stay far away. It's been a long time since he has felt this kind of warmth. Now, with so many people concerned about him, he can really feel his own strength.

With the assistance of the center, Xiao Zhang is raising himself up again, and re-entering society and life. Not long ago, he also found a job, and is using his own two hands to create a living. "Never before did I feel that life is so full of flavor. I think my life will get better little by little." As he said this, Xiao Zhang's eyes filled with longing.

At the center there are two people who are the recipients of this kind of assistance. In order to help these people, the center has formulated a complete proposal and defined personnel, to allow them to feel society's warmth. This action has received the approval of the recipient's families.

According to our understanding, there are four other AIDS families in Xiao Shan receiving society's deep love and concern. At present, the anti-retroviral medication for the AIDS patients within these families is provided free of charge by the government. They also receive free testing, free treatment, and other such preferential measures.

Changsha engages “peer publicists” to disseminate AIDS knowledge

On July 25th, Changsha News learned that Xiao Hongyou, a worker in a certain hotel in Changsha, has a whole other identity. She has signed a contract with the Changsha Center for Disease Control to become a "peer publicist" in "public entertainment places' (translator's note: establishments doing business in sex trade). She will disseminate knowledge about prevention of AIDS and STIs to colleagues and friends around her. At present, the Changsha CDC along with some workers at these places, have concluded and signed Peer Publicist Employment Agreement.

"Peer publicist" refers to a form of education by which people of the same sex, similar age, similar background, common experiences, and similar physiological condition who for certain reasons and using their common language come together to share information, ideas, and behavioral techniques.

Changsha CDC STI/AIDS Prevention Department Chief Huang Zhulin explained, according to this agreement, the Changsha CDC entrusts these contacted organizations to launch this peer publicity work among sex workers ("service personnel") at these venues, and provide informative materials and condoms free of charge. This is so that these sorts of places can launch trainings on AIDS prevention, condom use, condom techniques, and related knowledge. The contracted organizations bear responsibility for carrying out the publicity and training for AIDS prevention knowledge and at the same time train a certain number of "peer publicists" from within the groups of sex workers. They are to participate in trainings and forums organized by the CDC according to the agreed upon times, participate at least twice in the larger-scale trainings and publicity activities, as well as take charge of providing their peers with informative materials and a medical card.

Changsha CDC Deputy Director Wang Xiao expressed that engaging these peer publicists is beneficial for strengthening that STI/AIDS publicity campaign towards sex workers, and reduces the risk of AIDS and STI transmission among the sex workers. It also helps the high-risk behavior intervention team members to better develop AIDS publicity work in these places, and at the same time, by means of these pilot projects promote new establishment of new models for high-risk behavior intervention.

China Issues "Good News" Awards for AIDS Reporting

In the past few days, reporters learned, requests for contributions for the second round of the China AIDS Good News Awards have begun, and country-wide reporters are collecting reports on AIDS.

These awards are given based on a joint decision of the State Council AIDS Prevention and Treatment Working Committee, National Population and Planned Parenthood Committee, Ministry of Health, senior media staff, and expert scholars, and coordinated by the International Media Research Center of Tsinghua University. It is aimed at encouraging Chinese news reporters to pay close attention to HIV/ AIDS patients and to produce honest, factual, objective, and balanced news reports.

It is designed so that there are 2 first-place winners, 3 second-place winners, and 5 third-place winners, and 1 winner of a special prize. News reports from September 30, 2006 until September 30, 2007 from the central news agencies; publications with the same official registration number under the scope of the production-construction corps of each province, autonomous region, municipality, and Xinjiang; and from TV and radio stations and websites that have already received formal approval are all fair game. The awards ceremony and the second session of the China Health Propaganda Conference will be held at Qinghua University on November 10th and 11th, 2007.

The last date for submission is October 15th, 2007. All reprints please send an original copy via express mail to: Beijing Qinghua University Hongmeng Lou (Xi Lou), room 307. Please send electronic copies to: xiaoll06@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn; wangxiaopei@tsinghua.edu.cn.

Anhui's AIDS monitoring network serves important function, detects 600 HIV cases

The AIDS detection network covering the entire province of Anhui has at present already begun the intial stages of set-up. According to recent statistics, the province has already detected 600 new HIV/AIDS cases through this network, whose vital function is to accurately and in a timely fashion provide an understanding of the trends in the province's epidemic situation and control the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

Currently this AIDS monitoring network can be found in the municipal and county-level Centers for Disease Prevention and Control in the province's cities, and across each of the various locations there is a total of 112 AIDS screening laboratories, including provincial maternal and child health clinics, provincial skincare clinics, provincial public health hospitals, provincial prison-managed hospitals, and in some cities maternal and child health organizations. The provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control has already set up a permanent AIDS laboratory, and 16 municipal Centers for Disease Prevention and Control done the same.

At the same time, CDC organizations of all levels across the entire province have set up 202 voluntary AIDS counseling and testing sites to provide the public and especially the high-risk behavior populations with free, voluntary AIDS counseling and testing services. Across the province there are 49 AIDS testing sites which have launched an inspection into the HIV situation among patients with STIs, injecting drug users, and sex workers.

In order to successfully carry out free anti-retroviral treatment for AIDS patients, the province has set up 15 flow cytometry instruments, 8 viral load instruments, and 1 HIV drug-resistance screening device in the provincial CDC and some major cities.

AIDS Suspect Fails to Bribe Police, Wounds Officer

Law enforcement officers accosted robbery suspect Guo Jiacheng (pseudonym), in a September 13 police operation in Dongfang municipality. Following arrest, Guo - an AIDS carrier - attempted legal evasion with a bribe of 30 thousand RMB to the chief of police. When declined, Guo resisted custody. Wrestling with officers and breaking a door-pane with his handcuffs, Guo attacked police with shards of bloodstained glass, wounding three prior to being subdued. Accounts of the incident have been widely circulated amongst city residents, gilding police reputation in the local populace.

Reports of South Sea Web, September 13:

Defending Civilians: Residents Convey Gratitude for Police Protection

"Will the wounded police recover? That's my most pressing concern."

"They've been very brave. Fighting an AIDS-infected suspect for our safety - that requires a lot of courage. I am - we all are - very touched," said Mrs. Chen, a 60-year-old resident and past victim of the suspect in question (she had lost an earring in a previous encounter). When told that the three officers had suffered no extensive injury, Mrs. Chen expressed great relief.

Video Evidence: Suspect Discovered

Since July, Basuo County, Dongfang had recorded a series of robberies, committed, according to reports of victims, by a single male. The robber was seen riding a motorcycle, and is known to target females. Security cameras captured the suspect during a robbery at an Agricultural Bank. Replay confirmed the man to be 30-year-old Guo Jiacheng, an AIDS carrier who had contracted the virus through drug use.

Guo resides in Basuo Port, Basuo County, Dongfang, and has a 10-year record of drug abuse. He had been forcibly subjected to rehabilitation on three separate occasions, and was diagnosed three years ago as an AIDS-carrier after adopting injection. Initial investigations have found Guo responsible for several robberies in the Basuo area. No physical harm was incurred in the incidents.

Dongfang Municipal Police have taken great concern with the Guo robberies. Party Commissariat and Chief of Police, Luo Yi, and Party Secretary Yang Sheng opened court proceedings in August, directed by the Investigation Bureau under Vice-Chief Zhao Yanxiang and special delegates from the Dongfang Police Department.

Tear Gas: Bakery Arrest

Guo Jiacheng inhabits a Basuo County apartment with a former female inmate, police investigations established. Guo is in the habit of purchasing bread at the Honey Bread Bakery (beside the Water Produces Bureau) at approximately eight in the morning.
At 8 A.M. on August 20, Basuo Police Station chief-of-police Zhen Yongfa, in the company of two plain-clothes officers, awaited the suspect near the Honey Bread Bakery. Guo failed to appear for a half-hour, at the end of which one of three was called away to another incident. Immediately following his departure, Guo was seen to arrive on his motorcycle, accompanied by his girlfriend. A substantial traffic of breakfasters surrounded the bakery. The remaining officer joined Guo in queue, where Chief Zhen, known to the suspect, concealed himself in a nearby clinic, anticipating further developments.

Abiding by expert-team arrangements, the officer slowly approached Guo for a sudden attack. Zhen approached Guo with tear gas, divesting the suspect of resistance. Guo's girlfriend came forward, grappling for the tear gas, but was promptly subdued. Guo was taken into custody.

The Suspect Breaks the Glass, Warning: Don't Come Near Me

Under Chief Chen Yongfa's interrogation, at first Guo Jiacheng refused to confess, but under powerful evidence, he refused to resign himself to the situation, unexpectedly saying: "As long as you agree to release me, I will allow my girlfriend to return home and bring you 3000 RMB cash." Standing firm against the suspect, Chief Chen Yongfa replied, "we can talk about money later, but you must first confess to the facts."

Seeing his attempts to be inadequate, Guo Jiacheng acted out of desperation. Around 2pm, he unexpectedly asked to go to the bathroom, accompanied by a single policeman. Without warning, Guo Jiacheng smashed the glass of the bathroom door with his hand, shattering it, covering his hands with blood, his two hands holding a sharp shard of glass. "Don't come near me, I have AIDS. Come closer and I'll stab you." Desperately threatening the policeman, Guo ran out of the bathroom into the hallway.

The inspector of the investigative team at the local police station Wei Qiang (alias), and a Dongfang Public Security Assistant Commissioner, preparing evidence in the next room, heard the noise in the hallway. Both dashed out of the room. Guo Jiacheng, now attempting to escape through jumping out of a window, saw that he was on the fifth floor, and became somewhat frightened. Inspector Wei Qiang rushed in front of Guo Jiacheng; Guo stabbed Chief Wei Qiang.

"At that time the situation was extremely desperate, I simply did not realize at that time that the suspect was an AIDS carrier, I only knew that I had to restrain the suspect immediately." When Guo Jiacheng had both hands restrained by Inspector Wei, Guo Jiacheng stabbed Wei's left arms, leaving several wounds and streams of bright red blood. Guo Jiacheng also attempted to run towards the staircase, but the Assistant Commissioner rushed forward, shouting: "Don't move." The second the suspect turned, the Assistant Commissioner grabbed Guo's head, pressing his neck, "headlocking" him, throwing him to the ground, Weiqiang held both the suspect's both the suspect's hands from the front, the two men subduing the suspect.

Biting the police's fingers: dirty blood contaminates the wound

At 9 in the evening of the same day, Guo Jiacheng was detained for interrogation at another local police station. During the interrogation, Guo Jiacheng requested to go to the toilet. Instructor Hong Gang (alias) accompanied Guo Jiacheng with 3 policemen to the restroom, with the 4 policemen encircling the suspect. Suddenly, Guo broke into a run towards the grove at the rear of the court, Hong Gang ran ahead of him, stubbornly grabbing his hand, even as Guo Jiacheng struggled and yelled: "Those who don't fear AIDS come join the struggle." Guo made an effort to bite Wei's grasping hand. Hong Gang, enduring great pain, stubbornly continued to grasp Guo's hand. In the midst of the violent fight, the suspect attempted to smear his own bloodstain into the bite wounds of his opponent. Under the cooperation of multiple officers, the suspect was finally knocked down to the ground.

Public security bureau chief: Proud of his police

"For several minutes time, glass fragments covered the ground, but were covered in blood. At the time my arm was bleeding, the Assistant Commissioner flushed the wound with clean water for me, but also let the driver go fetch a doctor from the hospital, wrapped the wound, but only then discovered that the Assistant Commissioner's foot was also bleeding." Wei Qiang told reporters that, at the time they caught the suspect, Assistant Commissioner Lian Xiedu's shoes were still not pierced, only lightly pricked by the glass shards. The 3 injured police officers receiving the news, Bureau Chief Luo Yi and Commissar Yang Sheng immediately hurried back, Bureau Chief Luo Yi having the driver rush 230 kilometers by car to the province guard center to fetch the medicine for the injured police officers, and arranged them to undergo comprehensive inspections at the hospital. Bureau Chief Luo Yi, who excitedly accepted the interview, said that, "I am extremely moved, but this is a proud moment for our heroic public security police. This case showed that, to the suspect who has AIDS, the police must dare to hold, must dare to examine, must dare to restrain, and certainly cannot let this kind of criminal offender harm society."

At present the three officers have already been taking medicine for 20 days, have been inspected by doctors, and currently display no problems.

The other day, the Dongfang Police Station sent the robbery suspect Guo Jiacheng to the Eastern Crime Protectorate for further detainment.

Local CDC Disseminating Urban Disease Prevention Knowledge Online

Sources report, the Yantai Center for Disease Control, in order to satisfy popular demand for information on disease prevention, will officially open the Yantai Center for Disease Control Website （www.ytscdc.cn ）on October 1, 2007. The development will provide a new means for disease prevention within the city.The opening of the website will employ the advantages of Internet communication to actively disseminate comprehensive knowledge pertaining to sanitation and disease prevention. Registration on the webpage will furnish residents with intelligence on disease trends and occurrence and access to information on disease prevention regulation, such as scheduling and eligibility for immunization projects, as well as free consultations on AIDS, public health incidents, infectious disease control and similar health issues.

Preventing AIDS - I know, You know, He knows, 1,200 rural workers study AIDS

"For my health and the health of my family, I must have a grasp of basic HIV knowledge, and I must exhort each and every one of my friends to have the self respect to stand on my own two feet, lead a clean and pure life, stay far away from drugs...." more than 1,200 rural migrant workers solemnly swore in the public square at the Hu Building in Kai Fu district yesterday. This was part of the opening ceremony of Hunan Province's rural migrant worker AIDS prevention publicity event. The event was sponsored by the National Women's Federation, and hosted by the Hunan Women's Federation, Kai Fu district Party committee, the district government, and the district Women's Federation.The majority of people suffering from HIV in Hunan are young people and the unemployed, and the rural workers have already become a focal population for HIV transmission. At present, the number of rural workers leaving Hunan to go into the cities for employment is over 12 million, and when individual districts do sampling among rural workers returning to Hunan, they have discovered a rising trend in the HIV infection rate. Because these rural workers have a relatively low educational level, their knowledge about HIV is similarly lacking. This difference in consciousness of self-protection has made them into a HIV high-prevalence population. Disseminating AIDS prevention information among rural workers and raising their self-protection awareness is imperative.

HIV/AIDS cases in China reach 214,300, deaths number 18,000

As of July of this year, there was an accumulated total of 214,300 HIV patients in China, and out of these 56,758 have AIDS and 18,246 have died. (Photo by China News Agency Huang Zhengsheng).The news a few days ago from the National AIDS Prevention Propaganda and Education Event Organizing Committee at the East China regions AIDS Prevention Meeting: In the first 10 days of November of this year, 100,000 illustrated posters on AIDS prevention will be distributed in communities in Eastern China. The Eastern China AIDS prevention website will also be set up.State Council AIDS Committee Deputy Director Hao Yang said that since China discovered its first AIDS case in 1985, up until the end of July of this year, there was an accumulated total of 214,300 HIV/AIDS patients in China, 56758 of whom have AIDS, and 18,246 of whom have died. Because of HIV's latent period and its concealed nature, it is possible that there are HIV-positive people who have not yet been discovered. For the purposes of mass prevention and treatment, starting this year, regions in Eastern China will unite to launch AIDS prevention training events

ARV Therapy Information Management Working Conference Convenes in Qingdao

In order to go a step further in strengthening the work of managing antiretroviral therapy (ART), ensure the quality of of the National ART Database, and raise the capacity of the monitoring and evaluation (M and E) of the ART program, the Antiretroviral Therapy Information Management Working Conference convened from the 23rd to the 26th of August in the Qingdao Seashore Garden Hotel. It was sponsored by the National Center for STD/AIDS Prevention and Control (NCAIDS) under the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and held by the Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Altogether more than 50 people from NCAIDS Treatment and Care Division and all 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities participated in the meeting.The meeting was hosted by Ms. Ma Ye, Deputy Director of NCAIDS Treatment and Care Division. NCAIDS Deputy Director Liu Zhongfu, Shandong Province CDC Deputy Secretary Xue Yedong, Qingdao CDC Director Li Shuili attended the opening ceremony and made speeches. The meeting first introduced the working condition of China's ART information system, and summarized the main problems currently existing in the system and the focal points of the next step in information management. Focusing on the recently released "2007 ART Data Quality Evaluation Proposal", the meeting gave a thorough and exhaustive introduction of basic goals, target methods, organisationsal implementation, results and feedback, and typical examples of workflow in the field, and especially stressed the various technical sections of on-site evaluations. As the process for formulating some individual indicators used in evaluations is relatively complex, and it is not currently possible to download existing results from the AIDS Network Information system, the meeting conducted detailed and specific explanations on the principles, processes and examples of how evaluative indicators were quantified.Finally, the meeting summarized matters needing attention in the comprehensive management of pediatric ART, and introduced commonly seen problems and major issues the ART drug management process. There was particular focus on drug planning and calculation methods. The conference was held using classroom lectures, practice exercises, interactive discussions, and other such methods in alternation. Enthusiastic and in-depth discussions were given to individual problems.The convening of this meeting will provide comprehensive and detailed technical support for the launch of 2007's work of Free ART Data Quality Evaluation, provide strong guidance for the smooth start-up of field evaluations in each province, and establish a good foundation for improving ART data quality by more readily detecting and resolving problems with ART data quality and standardizing the filling out of ART information forms. This council will also serve the positive function of pushing forward the standardization of management for pediatric ART data and ART drugs.

HIV more easily transmitted after alcohol consumption

Research from the University of California at Los Angeles shows that alcohol causes the cells in the oral cavity to contract HIV more easily during oral sex. This is the first time that research has been done on the influence of alcohol on HIV transmission.Past research has discovered that the chances of having sex without a condom are greater under the influence of alcohol, thereby increasing the risk of HIV transmission. The research mentioned above focused on the effect of alcohol on the cells in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, and discovered that alcohol can cause these cells to be three to six times more likely to become infected with HIV during oral contact after alcohol consumption.Researchers collected these oral mucous membrane cells from individuals without HIV and put them in contact with alcohol that matched the alcohol content of several types of beer, and then introduced fluorescent green HIV proteins to observe whether or not they infected the oral mucous membrane cells. The laboratory results showed that after 10 minutes contact with alcohol of 4% alcohol content, the rate of HIV infection of the oral mucous membrane cells increased between three and sixfold . HIV specially targets white blood cells called CD4+ cells, and in normal circumstance the membranes in the oral cavity contain relatively more white blood cells.HIV can "seize this type of white blood cell by both arms," and empty its own DNA into the white blood cell, causing the latter to produce more viral particles and infect more cells. CD4+ cell hosts are finally killed off by the virus, although presently scientists still do not understand the mechanism. With the reduction of CD4+ cells, the human body's immune system declines to a certain point at which the person can be diagnosed and confirmed as having AIDS.

The Public Good of AIDS Prevention Enters Olympic Construction Sites

In recent days, the Ministry of Health has screened AIDS education films and movies at 100 Olympic construction sites in Beiing, Qinhuangdao and Qingdao, aimed at the rural workers who migrate to the city looking for work, whose knowledge of how AIDS is transmitted and how it can be prevented is unclear and weak. There were more than 200 screenings - part of a large-scale "Films disseminate knowledge, Science prevents AIDS" public welfare event hosted by the Ministry of Health.To this end, the Ministry of Health organized ten regular film projection teams, five automatic film projection teams, provided all necessary equipment and vehicles, and organized film projection experts to attend the construction sites and launch this work. In order to expand the impact of the broadcast, the Ministry of Health is also publishing corresponding information in the Beijing Youth Daily, Worker's Daily, and Peasant's Daily newspapers.

China Changes Course on Using NGOs as Grant Implementers

Over the last few months, innovative plans by the China CCM to use an NGO as Principal Recipient for a Round 6 HIV/AIDS Global Fund grant, and to use small grass-roots NGOs for much of the implementation work, have been almost entirely reversed.The changes have arisen because there are few if any NGOs in China with sufficient experience to serve as Principal Recipient (PR), and because officials in the China government and in large pro-government NGOs have little experience working with a growing network of independent-thinking grass-roots NGOs. The Round 6 proposal was acceptable in principle to most of them; but the reality of implementing it appears to have been more than some of them could handle.In fact, in countries receiving Global Fund grants, it is relatively common for NGOs to be sidelined when it comes to true leadership in the design and implementation of programmes. "What is happening in China is only an egregious example of what happens in other places across the globe," commented Gregg Gonsalves, of the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa.The Round 6 initiative, had it taken place as planned, would have been the third impressive HIV/AIDS-related development in China over the past four years.The first was when the government of China shifted its attitude on HIV/AIDS from almost complete denial to a willingness to openly recognize and confront the issues surrounding the epidemic.The second was when the government accepted that grass-roots NGOs could elect someone to represent them on the CCM, alongside representatives of "GONGOs" (government-organized NGOs) and "mass organizations" – both of which can be technically referred to as "NGOs" but neither of which is likely to meaningfully oppose government positions. This was impressive: grass-roots NGOs are growing in number in China, but they find it almost impossible to become officially registered as NGOs, as a result of which they find themselves excluded from most activities involving partnership with government.The third potential development – the one that has now been largely reversed – came when the government-dominated CCM submitted to the Global Fund a $14-million Round 6 proposal entitled "Mobilizing Civil Society to Scale Up HIV/AIDS Control Efforts in China." The proposal stated, "As a project wholly owned by NGOs, it is planned to have roles of both Principal Recipient and Sub-Recipients taken up by NGOs." The proposal was developed by the CCM's large, diverse, and relatively independent AIDS Working Group (AWG), which has more than 80 members ranging from unregistered grass-roots NGOs to government officials.All previous Global Fund grants to China had been largely government-led top-down affairs using as their Principal Recipient (PR) the "Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of the Government of the People's Republic of China" (China CDC). A number of CCM members felt that drawing upon the rapidly-developing NGO sector for the Round 6 proposal made good sense, and might improve the chances of the proposal being accepted.At first, things went well. Despite the very tight schedule, the writing of the Round 6 HIV proposal was a consultative and participatory process. The AIDS Working Group came up with a plan to involve as many NGOs as possible (including both legally registered and unregistered NGOs, GONGOs and academic institutions) on condition that they "filled the gaps" in existing services, reached populations not reached by government programs, and otherwise supplemented existing efforts. The AWG invited NGOs around the country to submit suggestions regarding their potential role in a Round 6 grant, and drew up criteria for choosing among these.In the end, 84 submissions were received from NGOs, GONGOs and academic institutions, of which 53 were approved by an outside "Review Team" and grouped according to the populations targeted by the project proposals (e.g. MSM, IDU, PLWHA etc). The 16-member "Writing Team" then distilled key activities from the submissions received.The writing team had less than a month to create a single proposal from all the approved NGO submissions, during which time the team sent several drafts for comment from the AWG and civil society groups. According to one member of the writing team, activities and provinces were chosen in a systematic way based on the scale of the epidemic in each proposed activity area and the gaps in existing government and NGO programming there.As for the selection of the PR, this was done according to a public bidding process based on criteria developed by the AWG. Only a small number of organizations applied, and their applications were reviewed by a team established by the CCM. The China HIV/AIDS Association – an NGO that is closely linked to the government and is led by a former government official – was finally selected and approved by the CCM without a great deal of debate.Developments thus far had gone relatively smoothly. But then there was a major roadblock – the selection of the Sub-Recipients (SRs). The Global Fund strongly suggests that any proposal identify the implementing bodies (in this case the SRs), but the Writing Team had neither the time nor the authority to do so. "It was apparent from the very first meeting that there would be fierce resistance if the team had tried to identify the SRs," said Odilon Couzin, the coordinator of the writing team, "because this would have amounted to 'deciding who gets the cash'."To avoid this conflict, it was agreed the AWG would be involved in drafting the SR selection procedure and that the initial SRs would be chosen from the list of 53 groups whose submissions made up the "raw material" of the proposal. A list of criteria for SRs to meet was approved and included as an annex in the final proposal – these mainly concentrated on implementation capacity and the ability to support development of grass-roots NGOs as implementing partners.However, once the proposal was approved by the Global Fund, it became clear that sub-recipient selection was going to be a tough and even contentious process. Radically different versions of the "SR Selection Process" were passed around, with NGOs challenging the PR's proposed process as an attempt to exclude the very civil society groups that the proposal was supposed to mobilize. They cited examples, such as a requirement that SRs must be legally registered tax-free bodies – an almost impossible feat in China for any organization without strong government ties. Eventually, a second compromise "SR selection procedure" that avoided some of the more contentious points was agreed upon, sent to the full China CCM for review, and approved.Despite this, it soon emerged that the chosen PR, the China HIV/AIDS Association, was determined to install its own provincial branch associations as SRs in each of the 15 programme provinces. According to local NGOs, the Association dominated consultation meetings at which grass-roots NGOs were deemed not "suitable" to be SRs. This surprised many participants, as the original proposal clearly stated that "Initial sub-recipients will be chosen from the pool of 56 [actually, 53] NGO submissions received and approved by the Review Team." Although almost none of the provincial HIV/AIDS associations were named in the original submissions, and although they are technically independent of the national HIV/AIDS Association, the national Association claimed that they were all implicitly part of its own submission to serve not just as PR but also as SR, and thus they were eligible to be chosen as SRs.Then, at the height of these tensions, the Global Fund informed the CCM that the LFA had determined that the China HIV/AIDS Association had "significant weaknesses" which meant that it could not, in its current form, serve as PR. In a follow-up opinion, the Global Fund's portfolio manager for China recommended that the PR should be the China CDC – the very organization that had served as PR for all previous Global Fund grants to China, and that is categorized by the Global Fund as being a governmental entity. The CCM then agreed that the China CDC would act as PR during the first two years of the programme, with the China AIDS Association acting as the "main SR.""It was an odd decision to make China CDC be the PR," said Jia Ping, who served until recently as the CCM member representing grass-roots NGOs. "This grant is supposed to be an NGO-led grant to fill gaps which China CDC had left in its government-led grants. And China CDC has no capacity to mobilize civil society. On the other hand, no other organization seems to be qualified."Forging ahead with SR selection, the newly-assigned PR held numerous "consultation" meetings with various sectors, mostly government and GONGO. What became clear to the civil society participants who went to these meetings, however, was that they were being shut out of the process: "They have changed the SR criteria every time to make the China AIDS Association the only agent that can be the SR," wrote a staff member from one NGO. "Many of us NGOs feel frustrated that we are being fooled with. We spent so much time, efforts, meetings, and finally it's still their game." One by one, NGOs stopped bothering to go to these meetings, as they suspected they were invited merely to maintain the veneer of civil society participation.Some NGOs report that during this process, they were privately pressured to withdraw their applications to serve as SRs. (None was willing to be named for this article, for fear that this might harm their ability to continue their work on HIV/AIDS.) Eventually, it became clear that grass-roots NGOs were only welcome to become "SSRs", sub-sub-recipients. In previous rounds, SSRs had received very small amounts of funding and found themselves at the mercy of the SRs."My fear is that independent NGOs will have little or no say in the final implementation," said Couzin, the writing team coordinator. "If this happens, Round 6 could become more of an NGO 'control' mechanism than the NGO 'mobilization' programme that we originally designed."When the final SRs were selected by the PR, at least ten of the fifteen were local branches of the China AIDS Association, and two were GONGOs. None of the selected SRs were grass-roots or community-based NGOs or organizations representing people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)."The selection of SRs was supposed to be based on their financial and management capacity," said Jia Ping. "The provincial branches of the China HIV/AIDS Association that ended up being chosen mostly don't appear to meet the agreed criteria. The results were obviously pre-determined."Added Dr. Wan Yanhai, the widely-known leader of Aizhixing, a Chinese grass-roots NGO, "These provincial branches, which are run by retired government people, are hungry for the Global Fund money. They have never received as much money as the Round 6 grant could bring. It will be difficult for them to share it."This choice of SRs by the PR appears to be in direct conflict with strong statements in the proposal that "this proposal represents a fundamental shift towards the strong and meaningful participation of civil society" in the implementation process, and that "the project plans to mobilize NGOs, in particular MSM groups, PLWHA groups or networks, to be responsible for the bulk of implementation." It also conflicted with the observation of the Fund's Technical Review Panel (TRP), when recommending the proposal to the board, that the goal of this proposal was "empowering NGOs in a bottom-up process that will truly build their capacities", and that one of the strengths of the proposal was that sub-recipients would be "a cross section of Community Based organizations, Government-operated NGOs, international NGOs and faith based organizations."This removal of community-based organizations and PLWHA groups from the list of SRs was not the only problem. At a heated July meeting of the AWG, participants complained that in the workplan that was about to be submitted by the PR to the Fund for approval, activities and budgets had been changed significantly from what was specified in the original proposal. In particular, many of the truly NGO-led activities had been reduced or eliminated. For instance, the indicator "Number of national ARV treatment sites with NGO-led counselling available" had been removed, and budgets assigned for NGO-led activities such as providing treatment counselling and peer education had been cut to 20 25% of their original values. Yet the budget line for staffing the "provincial project offices" – a line which didn't even exist in the original proposal – was over $500,000 in Year 1.The Global Fund Secretariat has not yet approved the workplan or signed a grant agreement for this grant. The Secretariat has the right to say, if it wishes, that too many changes have been made from the original proposal, and the workplan must either be fixed or sent to the TRP for re-evaluation. "If the workplan is not changed to include meaningful sharing of power with grass-roots NGOs and international NGOs, I don't think the Fund should sign the grant agreement," said Wan Yanhai.The decision will no doubt be complex and political, not least because the Fund's next board meeting will, by chance, be taking place in China in November. Asked for comment, a Fund spokesman said, "The Global Fund is currently working with the CCM and the PR to ensure that the civil society components of the proposal are fully reflected in the grant agreement and will be implemented".The relationship in China between three distinct groups – an all-powerful government, NGOs that are close to the government, and grass-roots NGOs – has never been an easy one. The decision by the China government to be serious about fighting HIV/AIDS and to work closely with the Global Fund was a bold one. It meant, on the one hand, that the government would be forced to work with civil society, in ways that would inevitably lead at times to tensions, and on the other hand, that an externally-moderated framework was now available in which the various parties could get more used to dealing with each other.But the experience with the Round 6 HIV/AIDS grant suggests that it will be hard for advocates to mobilize – or for the government to permit – a strong civil society response to HIV/AIDS in China. While some more open-minded government officials may agree in principle that there should be cooperation with free-thinking grass roots NGOs, this approach continues to be regarded as threatening by government and pro-government functionaries from the highest to the lowest. If the Round 6 grant is to proceed in China, compromises may need to be made by all the players, and civil society mobilization will most likely not proceed at the pace envisioned in the original proposal. The complicating factor that the Fund has to consider is that insofar as the money is permitted to go to the provincial HIV/AIDS Associations, the Global Fund money that was supposed to unleash the implementation capacity of grass-roots AIDS NGOs will instead partially unleash the capabilities of what one observer described as "government-sponsored 'minders' " of these same NGOs.[Note: China CDC, the China HIV/AIDS Association, and the China Ministry of Health were approached by GFO several days ago, but chose not to submit comments regarding the issues raised in this article]

AIDS Suspect Fails to Bribe Police, Wounds Officer

Law enforcement officers accosted robbery suspect Guo Jiacheng (pseudonym), in a September 13 police operation in Dongfang municipality. Following arrest, Guo – an AIDS carrier – attempted legal evasion with a bribe of 30 thousand RMB to the chief of police. When declined, Guo resisted custody. Wrestling with officers and breaking a door-pane with his handcuffs, Guo attacked police with shards of bloodstained glass, wounding three prior to being subdued. Accounts of the incident have been widely circulated amongst city residents, gilding police reputation in the local populace.Reports of South Sea Web, September 13:Defending Civilians: Residents Convey Gratitude for Police Protection“Will the wounded police recover? That’s my most pressing concern.”“They’ve been very brave. Fighting an AIDS-infected suspect for our safety – that requires a lot of courage. I am – we all are – very touched,” said Mrs. Chen, a 60-year-old resident and past victim of the suspect in question (she had lost an earring in a previous encounter). When told that the three officers had suffered no extensive injury, Mrs. Chen expressed great relief.Video Evidence: Suspect DiscoveredSince July, Basuo County, Dongfang had recorded a series of robberies, committed, according to reports of victims, by a single male. The robber was seen riding a motorcycle, and is known to target females. Security cameras captured the suspect during a robbery at an Agricultural Bank. Replay confirmed the man to be 30-year-old Guo Jiacheng, an AIDS carrier who had contracted the virus through drug use.Guo resides in Basuo Port, Basuo County, Dongfang, and has a 10-year record of drug abuse. He had been forcibly subjected to rehabilitation on three separate occasions, and was diagnosed three years ago as an AIDS-carrier after adopting injection. Initial investigations have found Guo responsible for several robberies in the Basuo area. No physical harm was incurred in the incidents.Dongfang Municipal Police have taken great concern with the Guo robberies. Party Commissariat and Chief of Police, Luo Yi, and Party Secretary Yang Sheng opened court proceedings in August, directed by the Investigation Bureau under Vice-Chief Zhao Yanxiang and special delegates from the Dongfang Police Department. Tear Gas: Bakery ArrestGuo Jiacheng inhabits a Basuo County apartment with a former female inmate, police investigations established. Guo is in the habit of purchasing bread at the Honey Bread Bakery (beside the Water Produces Bureau) at approximately eight in the morning. At 8 A.M. on August 20, Basuo Police Station chief-of-police Zhen Yongfa, in the company of two plain-clothes officers, awaited the suspect near the Honey Bread Bakery. Guo failed to appear for a half-hour, at the end of which one of three was called away to another incident. Immediately following his departure, Guo was seen to arrive on his motorcycle, accompanied by his girlfriend. A substantial traffic of breakfasters surrounded the bakery. The remaining officer joined Guo in queue, where Chief Zhen, known to the suspect, concealed himself in a nearby clinic, anticipating further developments.Abiding by expert-team arrangements, the officer slowly approached Guo for a sudden attack. Zhen approached Guo with tear gas, divesting the suspect of resistance. Guo’s girlfriend came forward, grappling for the tear gas, but was promptly subdued. Guo was taken into custody.The Suspect Breaks the Glass, Warning: Don’t Come Near MeUnder Chief Chen Yongfa’s interrogation, at first Guo Jiacheng refused to confess, but under powerful evidence, he refused to resign himself to the situation, unexpectedly saying: “As long as you agree to release me, I will allow my girlfriend to return home and bring you 3000 RMB cash.” Standing firm against the suspect, Chief Chen Yongfa replied, “we can talk about money later, but you must first confess to the facts.”Seeing his attempts to be inadequate, Guo Jiacheng acted out of desperation. Around 2pm, he unexpectedly asked to go to the bathroom, accompanied by a single policeman. Without warning, Guo Jiacheng smashed the glass of the bathroom door with his hand, shattering it, covering his hands with blood, his two hands holding a sharp shard of glass. “Don’t come near me, I have AIDS. Come closer and I’ll stab you.” Desperately threatening the policeman, Guo ran out of the bathroom into the hallway.The inspector of the investigative team at the local police station Wei Qiang (alias), and a Dongfang Public Security Assistant Commissioner, preparing evidence in the next room, heard the noise in the hallway. Both dashed out of the room. Guo Jiacheng, now attempting to escape through jumping out of a window, saw that he was on the fifth floor, and became somewhat frightened. Inspector Wei Qiang rushed in front of Guo Jiacheng; Guo stabbed Chief Wei Qiang."At that time the situation was extremely desperate, I simply did not realize at that time that the suspect was an AIDS carrier, I only knew that I had to restrain the suspect immediately." When Guo Jiacheng had both hands restrained by Inspector Wei, Guo Jiacheng stabbed Wei’s left arms, leaving several wounds and streams of bright red blood. Guo Jiacheng also attempted to run towards the staircase, but the Assistant Commissioner rushed forward, shouting: "Don’t move." The second the suspect turned, the Assistant Commissioner grabbed Guo’s head, pressing his neck, "headlocking" him, throwing him to the ground, Weiqiang held both the suspect’s both the suspect’s hands from the front, the two men subduing the suspect.Biting the police’s fingers: dirty blood contaminates the woundAt 9 in the evening of the same day, Guo Jiacheng was detained for interrogation at another local police station. During the interrogation, Guo Jiacheng requested to go to the toilet. Instructor Hong Gang (alias) accompanied Guo Jiacheng with 3 policemen to the restroom, with the 4 policemen encircling the suspect. Suddenly, Guo broke into a run towards the grove at the rear of the court, Hong Gang ran ahead of him, stubbornly grabbing his hand, even as Guo Jiacheng struggled and yelled: "Those who don’t fear AIDS come join the struggle.” Guo made an effort to bite Wei’s grasping hand. Hong Gang, enduring great pain, stubbornly continued to grasp Guo’s hand. In the midst of the violent fight, the suspect attempted to smear his own bloodstain into the bite wounds of his opponent. Under the cooperation of multiple officers, the suspect was finally knocked down to the ground. Public security bureau chief: Proud of his police"For several minutes time, glass fragments covered the ground, but were covered in blood. At the time my arm was bleeding, the Assistant Commissioner flushed the wound with clean water for me, but also let the driver go fetch a doctor from the hospital, wrapped the wound, but only then discovered that the Assistant Commissioner’s foot was also bleeding." Wei Qiang told reporters that, at the time they caught the suspect, Assistant Commissioner Lian Xiedu’s shoes were still not pierced, only lightly pricked by the glass shards. The 3 injured police officers receiving the news, Bureau Chief Luo Yi and Commissar Yang Sheng immediately hurried back, Bureau Chief Luo Yi having the driver rush 230 kilometers by car to the province guard center to fetch the medicine for the injured police officers, and arranged them to undergo comprehensive inspections at the hospital. Bureau Chief Luo Yi, who excitedly accepted the interview, said that, "I am extremely moved, but this is a proud moment for our heroic public security police. This case showed that, to the suspect who has AIDS, the police must dare to hold, must dare to examine, must dare to restrain, and certainly cannot let this kind of criminal offender harm society." At present the three officers have already been taking medicine for 20 days, have been inspected by doctors, and currently display no problems.The other day, the Dongfang Police Station sent the robbery suspect Guo Jiacheng to the Eastern Crime Protectorate for further detainment.