China AIDS Activists Laud Documentary Oscar

At Sunday's 79th Academy Awards, the Oscar for best documentary short film went to "The Blood of Yingzhou District." The film, by Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon, tells the story of AIDS' effects on a family in China's Anhui province. In the adjoining province, Henan, thousands of Chinese were infected with HIV by unsanitary blood-buying operations. "I think the award really raises awareness about AIDS in China and especially the plight of AIDS orphans," said Chung To, a friend of Yang. "When we talk about AIDS orphans, people really usually think of Africa, but in China this is still a very serious issue." Chung is founder and chairperson of Chi Heng Foundation, a Hong Kong-based group that supports some 4,000 AIDS orphans in China.

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