Report: Asian AIDS Epidemic Is Worsening

"Time to Act," a report released today by ActionAid-Asia, says HIV/AIDS has reached a critical point and is now spreading faster in Asia than in Africa. The study cites complacent governments, inadequate health care and widespread prejudice as factors in the epidemic's spread.

The report warns that seemingly low prevalence rates in countries such as China and India mask huge actual numbers of HIV/AIDS cases and hotspots of infection. In Asia, roughly 7.2 million people have HIV, 5 million of them in India and China. An estimated half million people died of AIDS and nearly 1 million contracted HIV in the last year in Asia. Africa has 29 million infections.

"Asia may not be Africa, but the early warning signals are scary and clear. Africa's experience shows HIV/AIDS can destroy development gains of several decades and social composition of peoples in a single stroke," the report said.

The report cites the seriousness of local epidemics in several countries such as China, where the public health system is in chaos. The report notes that up to 7,000 Nepali girls are trafficked into Indian brothels every year; more than 100,000 work as prostitutes in Bombay, and many are HIV-infected.

The study notes that weak laws are failing to protect the rights of people with HIV/AIDS, and it calls on governments to learn from initiatives that have yielded positive results elsewhere.

"Compassion and a humane response are necessary to deal with HIV/AIDS," said John Samuel, ActionAid-Asia's director. "But compassion cannot be a substitute for government action. Health care is not a matter of charity but a right."

ActionAid-Asia is part of the global development group ActionAid, which works in 40 countries.

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