Contributions of international cooperation projects to the HIV/AIDS response in China

Sun, Jiangping; Liu, Hui; Li, Hui; Wang, Liqiu; Guo, Haoyan; Shan, Duo; Bulterys, Marc; Korhonen, Christine; Hao, Yang; Ren, Minghui

Although the overall HIV prevalence in China is only 0.05%, in some geographic areas HIV prevalence is 41% in the general population. With such great differences, interventions must be targeted to the local situation and population of concern. Since 1988, international cooperation projects have been an important part of China's HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts. The strategies and experiences of these international cooperation projects are gradually being integrated into China's national HIV/AIDS prevention and control work, while still adapting to the situation at the local level. In this way, an HIV/AIDS prevention model unique to China is being formed, which in turn is having a positive impact on HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts among the international community. The principle areas of investment have been in policy advocacy, monitoring, case detection, HIV prevention and intervention, stigma and discrimination reduction, care and support, capacity building, multi-sector cooperation and promotion of community-based organization (CBO) involvement. Yunnan, Henan and Sichuan have been the largest provincial recipients of funds, with each receiving 420 million USD. 1 Across China, these projects have introduced strategies for meeting local needs, exploring innovative methods, promoting international best practices and implementing successful HIV/AIDS control activities. As the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China evolved, 2 international support reflected these changing challenges ( Figure 1 ). (1988) (1989) (1990) (1991) (1992) (1993) (1994) In the initial stage of collaboration, the international community helped China build its HIV surveillance system as well as health professionals' trainings and public awareness campaigns.