China strives to control HIV/AIDS spread

China aims to decrease AIDS fatalities in the country by 30 percent by 2015, and new cases by 25 percent in 2015 as compared to 2010, according to a national action plan issued Wednesday. The State Council, or China's Cabinet, published the country's AIDS Action Plan for the 12th Five-Year Program period (2011-2015) on the website of the Chinese government, www.gov.cn, showing the government's leadership in HIV/AIDS prevention and control. STATISTICAL TARGETS The plan sets a target of 1.2 million people in China living with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2015. At present, China has an estimated number of 780,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, including 154,000 AIDS patients. To control the disease, the plan sets specific targets for AIDS public education, high-risk group intervention, HIV tests and treatment. The target awareness rate among urban and rural residents aged 15 to 60 is over 85 percent and 80 percent respectively. It should reach over 90 percent among high-risk groups and adolescents, over 85 percent for people flowing in and out of China, migrants, and over 95 percent for prisoners. The coverage of high-risk group interventions should reach over 90 percent, according to the plan. Over 80 percent of pregnant women should receive HIV tests, and in high-prevalence regions it should be more than 90 percent.