China-US Launch a National HIV/AIDS Program

A worker reads an AIDS prevention brochure during an "HIV/AIDS Awareness Program" at a construction site in Beijing on the eve of World AIDS Day November 30,2006. The number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in China has jumped by nearly 30 percent to more than 183,000 so far this year, according to the Health Ministry which said the virus seemed to be spreading from high-risk groups to the general public. [Photo: Reuters]

It's not the first time we've discussed the topic in our program, but every time we bring it up, the death toll has increased by hundreds of thousands, and many more are now in line to be struck down.  It's not war, famine, earthquakes or floods, but a virus that has been with us for a quarter century.  Today, it rears its ugly head in virtually every corner in the world, swallowing lives and fragmenting families.  And unfortunately, many of the victims living with this dreaded disease are still in the prime of their lives, striving to make their way in life.  So what can be done to protect their working rights, improve their life expectancy and quality?  Ni hao, you're listening to People In the Know, China's only English-language political current affairs program, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  In this edition of the show, we will talk about HIV/AIDS, in the wake of the recent launch of a national education program focusing on prevention and care in the workplace here in China.  We'll talk to a pair of experts from China and the US about their efforts to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  So let's get started.

 China and the US recently launched a national HIV/AIDS program aimed at protecting the employment rights of people with HIV and reduce stigma and discrimination in the workplace.  To give us a better sense of this project, we're pleased to be joined by Mr. Liu Yutong, Director of the Multilateral Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security International Cooperation.

(Dialogue with Liu)

We're going to take a short break.  When we come back, we'll talk to a US expert on international cooperation in fighting HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

 Ni hao, you're listening to People In the Know, CRI's daily political current affairs program, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  I'm Paul James in Beijing.  In this edition of our show, we're talking about HIV/AIDS protection for workers.  Launched by the Chinese Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the US Department of Labor and the International Labor Organization, a national campaign is now focusing on preventing the spread of HIV, along with ways to stop discrimination against those who have it.  To talk more it, we're now joined by Richard Howard, chief technical advisor with the International Labor Organization and the US Department of Labor Workplace Education Project here in China.

(Dialogue with Richard)

And that draws to a close of another edition of People In the Know, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  As our first guest speaker Mr. Liu pointed out, it's not risky working with people with HIV/AIDS, but fatal living with prejudice and discrimination.  Questions or comments for us?  Send us an email to crieng@crifm.com  For Executive Director Lin Lin and Producer Wang Lei, I'm Paul James in Beijing.  Have a nice Monday, and we'll talk to you again tomorrow.  (Source:  CRIENGLISH.com  )