?Twenty-two prestigious Chinese
scientists have warned that AIDS would become a "nationwide
scourge" in 10 years' time, unless prompt, efficient prevention and
control measures were taken.
The experts gave such warnings when reporting on the progress of
the "121 Joint Action Plan", which, launched in March this year, is
to end on Dec. 1 -- World AIDS Day. With "Live and Let Live" as the
theme, the plan is sponsored by the Chinese
Foundation for Prevention of STD and AIDS, a professional AIDS
prevention and control institution.
According to relevant official breakdowns, China has about one
million AIDS carriers, scattered in all 31 provinces and autonomous
regions nationwide. However, experts hold that the actual number of
carriers is bigger and that the figure would possibly exceed 10
million in the year 2010, if no adequate timely and essential
measures are taken.
Zeng Yi, a renowned AIDS expert with the Chinese Ministry of
Health, remarked that both the government and the public
underestimated the possibility that AIDS might be widely epidemic
in next 10 years.
The society as a whole was not fully aware of the importance and
urgency of AIDS prevention and control and there remained a lot to
be done in terms of policy making, extensive publicity and
scientific researches, he acknowledged.
Zeng said it was of vital importance to increase the awareness of
the general public.
In view of a fund shortage in AIDS prevention and control,
scientists hoped that the industry and business circles would
initially support the plan.
The industry and business communities play a crucial part in
today's society, and their financial support to AIDS prevention and
control would be useful, meaningful and respectable, said He
Zuoxiu, a noted academician of Chinese
Academy of Sciences.
The plan's committee set this November as "AIDS Care Month", which
is expected to feature a host of charity activities including a
benefit performance in the Great Hall of the People on Dec.
1.
(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2003)