Australian Consulate-General Guangzhou
Media Release PD 25/08 3 November 2008
Australia to Help China Combat HIV/AIDS Among Drug Users
2 November 2008
The Australian Government is stepping up its cooperation with the People’s Republic of China to reduce the transmission of HIV associated with injecting drug use in Guangxi and Yunnan Provinces.
Australian Consul-General, Mr. Sean Kelly today joined with Director General for the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Health, Mr. Ren Minghui in launching the China Country Flexible Program of the HIV/AIDS Asia Regional Program (HAARP) in Nanning, Guangxi.
Through HAARP the Australian Agency for International Development, AusAID, will provide AUD7.4 million over five years to bolster Chinese Government efforts to implement drug related HIV harm reduction approaches. Activities will be conducted under the leadership of the National Centre for AIDS Control and Prevention and Chinese Ministry of Health.
The HIV epidemic in China began among heroin users in Yunnan Province in the late 1980s. By 2002 HIV had spread along drug trafficking routes to all 31 provinces and by 2007 infected drug users accounted for over 38 per cent of the total estimated 700,000 infections.
The path and rate of HIV spread in China underscores the urgency of the response needed.
Mr. Kelly praised the major steps the Chinese Government has already taken to tackle issues of drug use and HIV infection. “Harm reduction strategies have been officially endorsed, every day over 40,000 drug users receive methadone from 500 clinics in 23 provinces, and 1,400 needle and syringe programs serving 70,000 injecting drug users will be opened by the end of 2008. But more must be done and the Australian Government is pleased to be partnering with China to this end” he said.
Harm reduction is a response to complex and difficult problems such as illicit drug use. Through this partnership a comprehensive package of harm reduction services for injecting drug users will be provided. The partnership will focus on strengthening capacity of the multi-sector partners involved in policy planning and the delivery of effective harm reduction interventions.
For more information visit www.haarp-online.org or to schedule an interview please contact HAARP Program Director, Anindya Chatterjee on mobile +66 818 022 453 or email [email protected]