HIV/AIDS

The 2004 UNAIDS Global AIDS Report said that China would have the highest prevalence of AIDS in the entire world by the year 2015, and that Yunnan would have the highest prevalence of any province in China (because of its location in the Golden Triangle region, where drugs and prostitution are strong vectors for bringing HIV into the general population). China's research in 2007 revealed that half of the known cases in the country were in Yunnan, and that the epidemic was increasing at an alarming rate. The BCI HIV Prevention Program in Yunnan began to respond to this need in 2006 and works with related local and provincial government departments to provide values-based HIV/AIDS awareness training for people living in villages, migrants, commercial sex workers and students in middle school, high school and universities.

We are focusing on mobilizing and equipping national staff to respond to the many areas of need. Five of our sites now have teams focused on AIDS prevention objectives. Nearly one-fourth of our total staff is presently devoted to HIV-related objectives. In the future, staff members will also provide training for teachers, as HIV/AIDS information is required by the central government to be included in their school curriculum. Commercial sex workers are also receiving training in values-based HIV/AIDS awareness as well as in alternative vocational options. Through relationships built with individuals and families some sites are finding that patient care for AIDS-infected patients is becoming a growing aspect of the work in Yunnan. Prevention among IV Drug Users is also one of the major needs.