Chinese State Council underscored the importance of fighting HIV/AIDS by setting forth nine steps for prevention and control at its executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao on June 15.

The meeting noted that China's AIDS prevention and treatment is in a crucial period. Governments at all levels must fully realize the importance and urgency of the AIDS crisis and further define working guidelines.

The whole society should actively participate in the AIDS prevention and control, it said.

The meeting called on the governments at all levels and social organizations to formulate action plans, define working objectives, tasks and policies and list the AIDS prevention and treatment work as a key task of public health in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006- 2010). Funding must be allocated in government's budget.

HIV/AIDS education must be strengthened to improve public awareness. Monitoring network should be improved for overall control of the epidemic, it said.

Meanwhile, intervention on high-risk groups and crackdown on drug trafficking, drug use and prostitution must be continued. Blood collection and the operation of blood centers must be legalized.

The local governments must continue to provide free treatment to HIV carriers, including free anti-virus medicine, free anonymous testing and free medicine for HIV pregnant women. Free services must also include education for orphans of AIDS victims and care and aid for HIV/AIDS families.

The meeting also urged localities to protect legal rights of HIV carriers, fight against social discrimination and strengthen moral and legal education of HIV carriers.

HIV/AID prevention and control of the rural and migrant population must be strengthened. Governments at all levels must give more support to rural areas and formulate preventive measures specially for rural and migrant population.

Scientific research on HIV/AIDS, which includes vaccine and treatment drugs must speed up. Research institutes must explore effective means for treating HIV/AIDS with combination of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine. Professional medical teams' training must also be strengthened.

Finally, the meeting called for the improvement of legal construction of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and required all work to be regularized according to law.

Besides, the meeting discussed regulations on non-military cadres serving in the People's Liberation Army and a draft law on quality safety of agricultural products.

Source: Xinhua