Conditions
AIDS News: China Promotes Traditional Medicine
Increasing number of cases with HIV/AIDS in China has prompted the government to promote traditional medicine. The core of this plan is improving quality of life and reducing the number of deaths.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that the number of people affected with HIV/AIDS aging 15 to 24 years has increased four-fold between 2010 to 2016, according to a report by The Brics Post. In 2016, men aged 60 years old and above who tested positive for the disease have reached to 13,000. The figure is an increase by 3.6 times from 2010.
From January to September 2016, more than 96,000 cases of HIV/AIDS were reported in China. More than 200,000 people have died due to the dreaded disease, though the time frame of these deaths is not clear.
CDC has noted that there is a steady rise in HIV/AIDS among homosexuals. Currently, around 654,000 people are living in China that has the disease, and 94 percent has contracted the disease through sexual transmission.
The figures have prompted China's State Council to embark on a multi-tier strategy to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. It also includes education and awareness. The 13th Five-Year Plan also targets illegal blood transfusions, mother to child transmission and needle sharing.
Traditional Chinese medicine will also play a great part in the campaign as it doubles the number of HIV/AIDS patients to treat. Officials have been pushing the increase use of the ancient practice in China's medical system. There are about 450,000 traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in the country according to Channel News Asia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has already emphasized that the government should do more in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. All legal and scientific methods and policies must be implemented. The discrimination against patients afflicted with the disease and HIV carriers must be eliminated.
The strategy will also focus on increasing AIDS prevention awareness through publicity and education campaigns. Blood testing regulation and delivering proper medical assistance shall be greatly enhanced.
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