AIDS – Government starts to deliver after promises

SARS has served last year really as a wake-up call for the central government. Earlier this year international organizations like UNAID praised the Chinese government extensively for their 180-degree turnabout regarding AIDS. Until the beginning of this year AIDS was merely ignored or information was actively suppressed.
Now it seems that we did not see empty promises, as might have happened in too many cases. Doctors who were previously prosecuted for trying to raise the attention for this deadly disease now enjoy celebrity status. In Guangdong the government actually organizes a sex festival for the youngsters to raise the awareness. It will be a long way, but at least the subject remains high on the political agenda.