I’ve written a lot on this topic, and we’re going to see it in the news more and more. At least the government is acknowledging the seriousness of the crisis:
(Beijing) The number of AIDS patients in China has soared 140 percent in a year, state media reported on Saturday, 12 months after the United Nations warned of an explosive epidemic in the world’s most populous country.
More than a quarter-miillion people have died of AIDS in China so far, and more than 10 million will be infected by 2010, according to the UN.
1
By hnjjz
I think the UN is saying the number of HIV infections in China could rise to 10 million by 2010 (which is still extremely serious), not 100 million (which would be almost 10% of the population).
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK196376.htm
October 4, 2003 @ 10:03 pm | Comment
2
By Indigo Ocean
I have been working in the AIDS treatment field for almost a decade and am so troubled when I see a disease that could be brought to an absolute halt with simple honesty and openess instead threaten the survival of millions, orphan millions more, and undermine the stability of the nation system worldwide.
Whenever I learn something about what is causing problems at a communal level, I always try to look at how in my own life I am contributing to the problem or resembling that way of thinking/behaving. That is because I can change how I live far more easily than I can change governments or social norms. I learn from this epidemic how important it is for me to be open-minded and to place the truth above any agenda. My one allegiance must always be to honest inquiry and the willingness to change my mind in light of new information.
October 4, 2003 @ 10:41 pm | Comment
3
By richard
Thanks, I fixed the number.
Indigo, what you say is exactly right, and exactly the opposite of the government policy in China. It does seem to be improving, but as with SARS, the damage has been done and the suffering will be infinitely worse than it needed to be.
October 5, 2003 @ 2:32 am | Comment