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.