Mission China

China is seeing strong economic growth, but there is still a lot of social inequality in the country, and 2005 saw many protest movements: living conditions in rural areas are very precarious. In addition, more than a million Chinese may be affected by the AIDS virus which is spreading quickly across the country. The stigmatisation and discrimination suffered by people living with HIV, along with a lack of awareness about the epidemic are the two main obstacles to the fight against AIDS. Drug users, who are particularly affected by AIDS and hepatitis C, are the subject of a policy of repression, and harm reduction is still very under-developed in the country.

Preventing the HIV/AIDS epidemic and reducing risks amongst drug users

Chengdu (Sichuan)

Activities: The project began at the end of 2002 in partnership with the Centre of Disease Control (CDC) in Chengdu. The first phase saw the implementation in three voluntary detox centres of awareness, information and education activities on preventing HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C and on harm reduction aimed at drug users and centre staff, but also at the medical, administrative and political authorities. The new project, started at the beginning of November 2005, plans to open three drop-in centres gradually in different districts. Each will welcome users and provide information, basic hygiene services and a needle exchange programme (in the centre and on the street with peers). At the same time, awareness, information, prevention and education activities will be carried out amongst staff, drop-in centre volunteers and the medical, administrative and political authorities. These activities should mean that a network focused on harm reduction amongst drug users can be set up in the districts concerned, and that the people and the authorities will start to have a different image of users in their minds.

Outlook:
The current political context is favourable to setting up pilot projects for caring for drug addicts (the first trials with needle exchanges and methadone treatment have been authorised). Plans for 2006:

• • setting up 2 drop-in centres in identified districts to give drug users access to information and prevention of the different means of transmitting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C;
• setting up street work by identifying peers;
• training medical staff, volunteers and providing information to the public security forces of the districts concerned to ensure the work can continue.

july 2006