A non-government service center providing free consultation on AIDS was set up Sunday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province.
The center, named "Aizijia," established by the Red Cross Society of Yunnan (RCSY) and the Salvation Army of Hong Kong and Macao, is the first of its kind in Kunming.
The purpose is to help people understand more about the AIDS soas to protect themselves against the disease, according to an official from the Salvation Army.
Shi Luhua, head of RCSY, said the center would provide directions, consultations for AIDS patients, HIV carriers and ordinary people and would be an information center for patients.
Shi hopes that the free service will help prevent the spread of AIDS in the region and change society's traditional attitudes towards AIDS carriers.
(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2002)
