As the number of HIV infection cases shrinks in Guangzhou, the local community is asking for more awareness to be given to members of the gay population who are suffering from AIDS.

According to Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a new report shows a 10 percent decrease in the number of HIV-positive patients in the city from last year.

But the rate among gay men has soared five-fold in seven years, the report said.

In 2003, there was a 1.7 percent incidence rate of HIV/AIDS among the gay population in Guangzhou. This year it has risen to 7 percent, with many of those infected below the age of 15.

"Our main focus has shifted to HIV/AIDS protection among the gay population," said Wang Ming, director of Guangzhou CDC.

Many grassroots organizations have taken part in campaigns to protect the gay community.

In Guangzhou, six out of 11 professional non-government organizations (NGO) assisting with AIDS control and protection are now focused on the gay community, seeking to raise public awareness through street activities and intervention work in parks and saunas.

Ye Chengjiang, manager of the HIV prevention program for the Chi Heng Foundation, said he was not surprised by the increase in the HIV infection rate among gay men, which he described as an "urgent issue".

While admitting that there are complex reasons for the rise in the number of gay men who are HIV positive, Ye said the rise reflects the long-term challenges that gay men face in accessing information on safe sex and a shortage of health and education resources.

"The necessary information should be taught as early as possible, even in middle school," Ye said.

With assistance from these NGOs, last year 3,000 gay men, 400 prostitutes and 300 drug addicts were tested for HIV/AIDS at branches of the Guangzhou CDC.

By the end of September, the city had a total of 10,092 cases of HIV/AIDS, among whom 2,961 were confirmed AIDS patients.

Most cases of infection are from the migrant population. Local residents account for less than 40 percent of the total number of those with HIV/AIDS.

While the figure on new HIV infection cases is encouraging, Wang said further monitoring is needed before it can be said that the spread of the disease has been brought under control, which will require continued assistance from the government and NGOs.