Background
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a disease transmitted through bodily fluids, such as blood. HIV damages the immune system, which leaves the host with no defense against infections or other illnesses. Human Immunodeficiency Virus can progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS.[1]
In 1985, China closed its borders to all foreign blood products. At this time, HIV/ AIDS were prevalent in the United States and other Western nations. China wanted to make sure that the disease did not enter the country, and infect their population. However, without foreign blood products, the Chinese were forced to find a domestic source of blood products.
For this, the government turned to the rural communities, setting up blood banks. For each blood donation, the donor would be paid 30 – 50 yuan, about US$5.[2] This source of income was important to the rural families, and supported them economically. Unauthorized blood banks also began to crop up, run by ‘blood bullies’, or ‘blood bosses’.[3] Those in charge of these illegal organizations was worried only about the profit, and tended to cut corners.
Although these donation banks were supposed to be safe, supervisors and local officials turned a blind eye to non-sterile practices. Old needles were reused in the donations, meaning that the blood left on the needle could infect other donors. Plasma and red blood cells, two elements of blood, were meant to be separated individually for each donor. Instead, all the red blood cells were mixed together in one vat; blood carrying HIV was mixed with clean blood. When this blood was then re-injected into the donors, some became infected. The virus was then transmitted between villagers. In some villages, 60% of the inhabitants were infected. Over time these villages came to be known as AIDS villages.[4]
Although many HIV/ AIDS cases were reported during the next ten years, the government attributed these to foreign products, drug users, and homosexuals. The government blamed these cases on “being injected with imported medication”, called for a “crackdown on ‘sexual liberalization’ and homosexuality”, and claimed “70 percent of cases [were] intravenous drug users”.[5] It was not until 1995 that a Chinese official from the Ministry of Health (MOH) acknowledged that the blood-for-cash system could have been a source of AIDS within China.
On October 25, 1996, China had to deal with the first repercussions of the blood-for-cash system. Reported in The New York Times, blood products used in Guangdong and Hong Kong had been found to be contaminated with the AIDS virus. Although these claims were originally denied, three days later, the government confirmed that the blood had been collected as part of the blood banks in Wuhan.[6] None of the infected blood products had been exported, and no patients had been infected, but this scare was enough to force the government to act.
All of the blood products made from the blood collected in Wuhan were destroyed, and doctors were encouraged to use blood that was donated by volunteers, instead of blood that was sold. Officials hoped this would ensure that the donors were in better condition, and the blood was collected under more sanitary conditions. By 1996, China had approximately 13,000 cases of AIDS, which does not include cases of HIV.[7]
New laws were passed concerning blood collection, but the number of AIDS and HIV cases continued to rise. In 2001, the Chinese government announced a plan to spend US$116 million in order to create blood collection and screening centers, which would hopefully combat the spread of AIDS through non-sterile blood collection. The government also and announced that it will budget 100 million yuan (12 million USD) per year “towards improved education and treatment.”[8]
The plan was introduced with hopes to reduce China's annual HIV infection rate from 30 to 10 percent. It was obviously unsuccessful, as the increase in the number of AIDS cases from 2002 to 2003 was 30% - identical to the years beforehand.[9] Specialists believe that the failure of this plan comes from the fact that it does not focus on giving addicts new needles. This legislation may be based on principle, but the government has estimated that 71% of all HIV infections are contracted through the sharing of dirty needles.[10]
Although China had finally come to terms with the presence of AIDS in China, the damage had been done. From 1985 to 2003, the number of deaths caused by HIV/ AIDS was estimated at 150,000.[11] Most international organizations recognize this as a conservative number.
HIV infections and AIDS cases in China are still on the rise. In 2005, the estimated number of cases reached 650,000, more than four times the number of cases in 2003.[12]
Analysis
In the first half of 2007, the Chinese government reported 18,543 new cases of HIV, which is the same as the number of cases in the whole of 2006.[13] It is obvious that China needs to combat the spread of AIDS, which stemmed from the AIDS villages, or it may cost them an estimated $38 billion in the next 2 years.[14] And by this time, without sincere effort by the Chinese, UNAids estimates that the number of HIV/ AIDS patients in China could reach 10 million.[15]
An epidemic such as this has massive social implications. Rapidly increasing infection rates, and barely increasing awareness levels combine to present China with three types of implications: political, legal and economic. Recently, China has been attempting to combat this disease, but the disadvantages of these implications stand in their way.
70% of HIV infections are located in the countryside, as a result of poor hygiene, unprotected sex, and the blood-for-cash scheme.[16] On November 30th, 2007, World Aids Day, Prime Minister Wen Jia Bao visited an AIDS village - the second time in his term as Prime Minister - in order to see the truth. However, local officials ‘stage-directed’ the entire visit, trying to make a good impression. Villagers were confined to house arrest, and 1,600 plain clothes police entered the city in order to create, and maintain, an illusion of peace.[17]
This political façade has both advantages and disadvantages. The Prime Minister’s willingness to visit the AIDS villages, in the hope of seeing the situation as it is, is a hopeful sign. However, the negatives outweigh the positives. The local officials’ self serving attitude undermines the central government’s plans to help AIDS sufferers, meaning that those with AIDS do not receive the support they need. This political façade is almost encouraged by China’s communist political system; putting citizens under house arrest and censoring AIDS activists’ blogs – such as Hu Jia – stops patients from receiving aid.
In 2001, the government announced a plan that would hopefully cut the rate of infection from 30% to 10%. This was unsuccessful, as the infection rate between 2002and 2003 remained at 30%.[18] USD 12 million were pledged annually in order to “educate” Chinese people, however, many still do not know what the disease is, or how to prevent it. This clearly shows that the legislation is not effective, as the number of AIDS cases in China are still growing. A reason for this may be the Chinese reluctance to address the issue of addicts and unclean needles; their obstinacy is rendering their policies useless.
Inadequate legislation has no advantages, but it has many disadvantages. Every year, China can claim that it is “helping” the sufferers; however they are only throwing money at the problem, and improving its image. The Chinese public is appeased, but the infection rate is still growing – putting them at higher risk of AIDS. And addicts are abandoned to ‘deal with it’, as they are not included in the legislation. The government needs to realize that if AIDS is not stopped in every avenue, the disease will spread.
Economically, the AIDS epidemic in China could have dire implications. As people become sick or die of AIDS related illnesses, the work force in both the factories and in the fields will decrease. As a global exporter, the loss of labor will affect the Chinese economy. A loss of US$36 billion in industry, and US$2 billion in agriculture, means that the disease will cost them almost US$40 billion.[19]
If the government were to be forced to act through this monetary loss, then perhaps this would be an advantage. Unfortunately, the amount of money lost is only 0.3% of China’s accumulated GDP[20] – not enough to force China to act. The loss of labor in the fields will also affect the food situation in China, or more specifically it will affect the rural Chinese villagers. A food shortage will be felt in the countryside, and there is no guarantee of central government support.
Solutions
With the number HIV/ AIDS cases rising, and increasing infection rates, China is hard pressed for solutions to the HIV/ AIDS problem that may become a crisis by 2010. Focusing on the legal and economic problems that face China as a result of HIV/ AIDS, two specific solutions can be created that will hopefully rectify the situation.
In regards to the ineffective Chinese legislation, the solution to this problem is relatively simple. The government needs to amend their policies to include drug addicts in China. If intravenous drug users have clean needles, the infection rate in this demographic, and overall, should decrease. The education of the younger generations is also important. This should be relatively easy, if the government chooses to use the internet as a resource. Many AIDS activists write online about the problems, but these websites are censored; this limits the education they are attempting to provide, and does not allow awareness to increase. It stands to reason that these blogs must be uncensored, so that the public can learn the truth.
The advantages to this solution stem from its all-compassing nature. Amendments to existing legislation will ensure that the effective parts of the plan are kept, and the legislation is merely improved through its inclusion of drug users. It will also educate younger generations, which will help China in the future, when AIDS is likely to become more of a problem. It will then lower the infection rate through awareness. The disadvantages to this plan stem from the Chinese government’s outlook. China is unlikely to approve the AIDS activists’ blogs, as this could create problems in other parts of society. There is also a cultural disadvantage to this problem: by acknowledging the drug users, the Chinese government will lose face.
In order to avoid, or at least buffer, the economic implications of HIV/ AIDS in China, it is necessary for certain steps to be taken. Stopping the One Child Policy in China would lead to an increase in population, which would hopefully balance out the loss of labor because of HIV/ AIDS. Ensuring food aid for those in rural areas would soften the effects of the agricultural losses. The government could also decrease the human aspect of assembly lines, and replace workers with machines. This could offset the predicted monetary loss through labor, as machines will not be affected by HIV.
The advantages of this plan are the fact that those in rural communities will receive aid. The decrease in labor will result in a decrease in food produced; food aid would allow the villagers to maintain their standard of living. This plan could also decrease the amount of slave labor in China. The disadvantages to this plan stem mainly from the time frame. In order to create mechanical assembly lines, time would have to be allowed for research and construction. Introducing robots to take the place of humans might lead to a job shortage, or a salary decrease. If the One Child Policy were revoked, China would experience an uncontrollable population boom. Even if this population boom resulted in more labor, the time it would take for the new generation to grow to working age would be at least 6 years.
Comparing the two solutions, the first is more feasible. As HIV/ AIDS infections rate increase in China, it is clear that a solution is needed quickly. Solutions to the economic implications will take time to enforce, whereas amending legislation will hopefully help to prevent the economic implications. The only thing standing in the way of the first solution is China’s obstinacy and sense of pride, and at some point, they will have to realize there is too much at stake - they can no longer censor the truth or ignore the problem.
Bibliography
"China lowers its HIV/Aids figures." 25JAN2006. BBC. 20 May 2008 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4645648.stm>.
Feldmeier, Julia. "The Toll Of AIDS, Depicted By Children." 26JAN2006. Washington Post. 20 May 2008 <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/25/AR2006012500838_pf.html>.
Boustany, Nora. "Group Honors Doctor Who Exposed China AIDS Scandal." 15MAR2007. Washington Post. 20 May 2008 <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/14/AR2007031402699.html>.
Coonan, Clifford. "China admits that cases of HIV/Aids have risen 45 per cent." 23FEB2008. The Independent. 20 May 2008. <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-admits-that-cases-of-hivaids-have-risen-45-per-cent-786175.html>.
"Current Overview of HIV/ AIDS in China." 2003. China AIDS Survey. 20 May 2008 <http://www.casy.org/overview.htm>.
"HIV& AIDS in China." 19MAY2008. AVERT. 20 May 2008 <http://www.avert.org/aidschina.htm>.
Fan, Maureen. "Provinces Undermine Beijing's Goals on AIDS." 19SEP2007. Washington Post. 20 May 2008 <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/18/AR2007091802083.html>.
Watts, Jonathan. "Aids cover-up as Chinese PM visits village." 01DEC2007. The Guardian. 20 May 2008 <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/dec/01/china.aids>.
"China's World Aids Day media circus: Was it all a show?." 4DEC2007. The Shanghaiist. 20 May 2008 <http://shanghaiist.com/2007/12/04/chinas_world_ai.php>.
"Global Challenges | HIV/AIDS Expected To Cost China Nearly $40B Over Next Five Years, Expert Says." 08JUN2006. kaisernetwork.org. 20 May 2008 <http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=37775>.
"AIDS." 21MAY2008. Wikipedia. 22 May 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS>.
"China HIV/ AIDS Blood Supply Chonology." 2005. China AIDS Survey. 22 May 2008 <http://www.casy.org/chron/BloodSupply.htm>.
Patrick E. Tyler, "China Concedes Blood Serum Contained AIDS Virus," New York Times, 25 October 1997, p. A3; "AIDS in Blood Scare," The Australian, 28 October 1996, p. 7; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 28 October 1996.
"Type B' Found in All Area Eight HIV Strains Identified," China Daily, 6 August 1999, p. 2; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 6 August 1999.
Leigh, Jenkins, “Chinese Health Experts Blame ‘Little, Late’ Government Efforts to Fight AIDS,” South China Morning Post, 11 August 2001.
Page Information
|
Wiki Information |
Recent PBwiki Blog Posts |
Create your own educational wiki!