China’s Ministry of Health Sends HIV/AIDS Team to Henan Province
China's Ministry of Health has sent a team of HIV/AIDS experts to Henan province -- where unsafe blood collection practices in the mid-1990s helped spread HIV -- to oversee HIV/AIDS prevention programs and the distribution of HIV/AIDS treatments there, the South China Morning Post reports. The team, which arrived in Henan in September, is expected to remain in the province "until improvements have been made," according to the Post. According to sources, Henan province officials were "unhappy" with the team's presence and "demanded" that it leave. Central government officials denied the request, and the team remains in Henan (Fong, South China Morning Post, 10/28). The central government and the government of Henan earlier this month announced plans to spend at least $4 million to supply free HIV/AIDS drugs to "thousands" of Henan residents (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 10/18).
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.