China: Education Critical to HIV/AIDS Prevention Among Children: UNICEF Official

UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said this week that education is critical to controlling HIV's spread to China's youths. From Aug. 26-27, Veneman toured China's developing Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, where she saw students stage a play about HIV/AIDS. Students of No. 15 Middle School of Yinchuan, Ningxia's capital, created a play in which they practiced how to protect themselves against drugs and HIV. "I'm very impressed by the training of HIV/AIDS knowledge in the local school," said Veneman. A girl at the school also told of how a television scene about HIV patients had sparked her sympathy, which Veneman said was proof that TV "can play a big role in HIV/AIDS education for young people." Veneman hopes to solicit the support of businesses and wealthy donors to help stop HIV infections among youths. Stopping mother-to-child HIV transmission is also critical, she said.

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