Beijing’s Health Department Distributes No-Cost Condoms, HIV/AIDS Pamphlets to Olympic Hotels

Beijing's Health Bureau has distributed about 400,000 no-cost condoms and 250,000 HIV/AIDS prevention pamphlets to 119 contract hotels of the Olympic Games and other hotels in the city, Xinhuanet reports. According to Jin Dapeng, the bureau's party chief, the condoms have been placed in more than 90,000 rooms in 424 hotels rated three stars or higher. He added that health authorities have trained thousands of Olympic volunteers to promote HIV/AIDS prevention during the Games and that Olympic organizers worked with UNAIDS and the International Olympic Committee to distribute HIV/AIDS information to participants.

In addition, about 100,000 condoms are available at the clinic in the Olympic village along with HIV/AIDS prevention information in English, French and Chinese. According to Jin, about 180 college students and 500 community volunteers are prepared to "publicize AIDS-related knowledge." He added that the Health Bureau has "opened 40 clinics in Beijing's 18 districts and counties to offer free HIV tests and AIDS counseling." The Olympic Games present the opportunity to promote HIV/AIDS prevention messages on a global scale because they bring a large influx of visitors from around the world to Beijing, Jin said (Xinhuanet, 8/15).