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New HIV cases in Hong Kong; China boosts fight
February 27, 2018, 8:33 am

China has made combating HIV transmission, education and prevention an important aspect of its five-year plan [Xinhua]


Hong Kong authorities reported on Tuesday that 681 new HIV cases were reported in 2017.

The Center for Health Protection (CHP), part of the Hong Kong administration, says this is lower than the 692 cases reported in 2016.

The CHP says sexual transmission is the leading cause of HIV in new patients.

In recent years, the Chinese government and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) marked an increase in the number of people contracting HIV/AIDS on the mainland, particularly among junior and senior males.

By comparison, the CHP says that the 681 new HIV cases in 2017 involved 592 males and 89 females.

The CDC said that the number of people aged 15 to 24 testing positive for HIV/AIDS increased four-fold between 2010 and 2016.

China’s State Council has embarked on a multi-tier strategy including education and awareness, prevention and treatment to deal with the growing numbers of HIV/AIDS patients.

The plan, which also targets illegal blood transfusions, mother to child transmission and needle sharing, is part of the 13th Five-Year Plan, the Council said.

Improving quality of life and reducing the number of deaths of HIV/AIDS patients is central to this plan.

It also falls within efforts by Chinese President Xi Jinping that government and social institutions must do more toward the prevention and control of HIV/Aids.

Doing so, he said concerns people’s life and health, and social harmony and stability.

The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies