As China Faces Crisis, People with HIV Are Kept Largely Invisible

"I want to tell my story," said Zhao, 39, who sneaked out of one of China's few AIDS clinics because doctors barred reporters from visiting him there. "I want to appeal to society to save my life and my son's life . . . We are desperate, and I am not afraid to speak out openly."

For the Chinese government, that is the problem. Last week's first national conference on AIDS was replete with government officials and celebrities, but only a few people with HIV/AIDS were allowed to appear. The government wants to educate the public about AIDS, but it is afraid of what might happen if people with HIV are permitted to speak freely and criticize the government.

"The government wants to stay in control of the message," said Wan Yanhai, a former Health Ministry official and an AIDS activist. "Their position is, AIDS is a problem for the government and the experts to solve, not for regular people and not for grass-roots organizations." Only one HIV-positive person, 26-year old AIDS educator Li Zhiyong, was permitted to speak at length at the conference, and only to a small gathering. Another patient, who remained anonymous, delivered brief remarks at the opening ceremony. Standing on a corner of a darkened stage, he thanked the government for "giving me the courage to survive."

Almost everyone with HIV or AIDS who appears on Chinese television has his or her face and voice obscured electronically. "By always disguising people with HIV, the media is sending the message that these people are different," said Ou Zhiyong, a health official from the western city of Chengdu. "There are definitely people willing to be identified. Many people with HIV are poor and can't afford treatment, and they want to go to the media and ask for help."

About 600,000 people in China have been infected with HIV, according to officials. A state-run newspaper reported last week that the actual figure could be five to 10 times higher.

Back to other CDC news for November 20, 2001

Previous Updates | Search the CDC archive