Beijing authorities adopted measures to prevent young people
from becoming infected with HIV.
According to statistics provided by the Beijing Municipal Bureau
of Health, the number of HIV/AIDS carriers has increased at an
annual rate of 40 percent since 1998.
Most AIDS patients are young people aged 20-40, Guan Baoying, an
official with the bureau, said when quoted by the Beijing
Evening News.
Bars
Facing the situation, local authorities have established 40
billboards for the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the Sanlitun area of
Beijing, where many bars are located.
This is the first time HIV/AIDS prevention advertisements have
been posted in prosperous downtown areas, sources said.
Bars in Sanlitun receive approximately 1,000 consumers per day
with the patronage reaching about 4,000 during weekends, among whom
are mostly young people, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Haidian District Bureau of Health distributed
free condoms to students at seven Beijing universities.
Materials covering HIV/AIDS prevention were also sent to college
students.
At the Central University of Finance and Economics, students
welcomed the free condoms.
But Peking University and Tsinghua University are reported not
to agree to distribute condoms to students onsite.
Universities
Some experts say the universities are possibly afraid if they
distribute condoms, students or the public may believe the
universities are encouraging sexual relations among students.
Sources with the Haidian District Disease Prevention and Control
Centre said university students have become a high-risk group for
HIV/AIDS transmission.
All AIDS patients at universities were infected through sexual
contact, sources said.
The precise amount of AIDS patients within universities is still
unknown.
Zhu Jianfei, a Peking University student engaged in Red Cross
work, said most students are aware of how to prevent contraction of
the disease but some still fear those who suffer from HIV/AIDS.
(China Daily November 25, 2004)