Mother-to-Child HIV/AIDS Infection Plunges in China: Ministry

Ahead of World AIDS Day, China's Ministry of Health reported that the rate of mother-to-child infections among HIV-positive pregnant women had dropped from 34.8 percent at the start of 2009 to 7.9 percent in 2010. During that time, the central government allocated 8.3 billion yuan (US $1.3 billion) to improve women's health care in rural areas. These projects included promoting hospital delivery, preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission, and conducting tests for breast and cervical cancer, said Ma Xiaowei, vice minister of health. A total of 13.9 million rural mothers-to-be received HIV-related consultations and exams in the two-year period, Ma said. Ministry figures show that China had registered 429,000 HIV/AIDS patients as of the end of September -- an increase of almost 60,000 cases in the past 11 months.

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