Draft guidelines released by the Ministry of Health on Monday
recommended targeting HIV/AIDS information and services toward
populations thought to be at most risk from infection, with the use
of approaches including peer education.
It said sex workers, gay and bisexual men, long term migrant
workers and injecting drug users, as well as those with other
sexually transmitted infections and their partners, should be
prioritized for education and testing initiatives.
Peer educators and professional health workers should both be
involved providing information and free condoms in places target
group members frequent, according to the guidelines.
Male and female prostitution, both of which are illegal in
China, are nonetheless widespread.
A part-time masseur called Zhang from east Beijing's Chaoyang
District was all for the new approach. "The test for HIV or STDs is
totally OK with me."
Zhang, who said he had sex with his male clients for money only
"occasionally," said he believed it to be extremely unlikely that
he is HIV positive because he uses condoms.
(China Daily China.org.cn June 8, 2005)