Sichuan Province, which has 8,339 people
reported to be living with HIV/AIDS, ranks sixth among all
of China’s provinces in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Only 133 people living with HIV are on anti-retroviral therapy.
Of the areas affected by the Wenchuan and Panzhihua earthquakes,
Chengdu City and Liangshan Prefecture report the highest rates
of HIV.
Children, women, and families affected by
HIV/AIDS face a number of special challenges. The increased
workload and stress of health workers in the aftermath of
the earthquake affect the quality of counselling and social
support. Meanwhile, the shift of skilled personnel to the
emergency response has decreased the number of home visits
for case management support to children and families affected
by HIV/AIDS. Especially in more remote regions, poor road
conditions and limited means of transportation make it difficult
for patients to receive regular follow-up tests and treatment.
During the recovery phase, prevention education and protection
of children affected by HIV/AIDS remain a concern and a priority.
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UNICEF is working with the Ministry of
Health’s Division of Infectious Disease Control to procure
supplies for home visits and group counselling for mothers
and children living with HIV/AIDS. UNICEF is also conducting
HIV prevention and care activities among earthquake-affected
children in settlement camps, temporary schools, and children
centres. UNICEF has begun to develop best practices and training
manuals to provide psychosocial support to children, mothers,
and health staff affected by HIV/ AIDS in Beichuan County,
Jian’ge County, Zhongjiang County, Nanjiang County, Chongzhou
City, Zigong City, Guangyuan Prefecture, Aba Prefecture, and
Liangshan Prefecture.
UNICEF continues to work as a co -chair of
the UN HIV/AIDS Emergency Task Team to share information,
monitor the health and wellbeing of people and families living
with HIV/AIDS, and ensure that they are able to access services.
The task team is coordinating with local government agencies,
networks of people living with HIV/AIDS, major NGOs, and other
partner agencies in the disaster-struck areas to share data,
coordinate interventions,
and make the most efficient use of resources. The task team
is also developing a communication strategy to advise the
government on appropriate content, channels, and strategies
for disseminating information to various target groups, including
young people and girls. |
In the coming months, UNICEF will continue
to monitor the situation of children and women and build capacity
among health staff to ensure access to quality family- and
community-based care. UNICEF will also continue to support
psychosocial support training and empower children and families
affected by HIV/AIDS.
As co-chair of the UN Task Force, UNICEF
will work to mainstream HIV/AIDS into emergency recovery responses,
with activities such as the drafting of guidelines, dissemination
of global best practices, and training seminars. UNICEF will
also continue its work with the State Council AIDS Working
Committee Office to rehabilitate health services for children
and families affected by HIV/AIDS. This includes treating
people living with HIV/AIDS, preventing vertical transmission
from mothers to children, offering paediatric drugs, and strengthening
education programmes.
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