Prostitutes are being made the focus of the Ministry of Health's
latest efforts to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS.
According to a draft guideline released by the ministry on
Monday, prostitutes are to be offered HIV/AIDS and safe-sex
education, as well as tests and treatments for sexually transmitted
diseases.
According to the draft, education will be provided by trained
peers and professional health workers.
"Intervention with prostitutes is more difficult compared with
drug addicts who are more easily identifiable because they often
gather together and only a certain group of people take drugs,"
Wang Longde, vice minister for health, said earlier this month.
Although illegal, prostitution is widespread throughout
China.
A part-time homosexual masseur from Beijing's Chaoyang District
who identified himself only as Zhang was all for the new
approach.
"The test for HIV/AIDS or STDs is totally OK with me," he
said.
The man, who said he engaged in prostitution only
"occasionally," believes it is extremely unlikely he is infected
with HIV/AIDS because he uses condoms.
As well as STD patients, prostitutes and homosexuals, the health
ministry is also to target long-term migrant workers and drug
addicts.
Patients with STDs will be given standard medical treatment and
free condoms and information about HIV and AIDS will be
disseminated in areas frequented by people from high-risk
groups.
The ministry said medical workers involved in the plan should
have knowledge of the patterns of transmission of HIV and other
sexual diseases in the areas where they are to work.
(China Daily June 8, 2005)