China's HIV infections, mortality rates at globally low level

December 1 marks World AIDS Day.

The HIV infection and mortality rates in China are low on a global scale, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at a press conference in early November.

By the end of 2022, China had reported around 1.22 million individuals living with HIV/AIDS, with a cumulative death toll of 418,000 cases since the first case was reported in 1985 in the country, data from the CDC showed.

After years of effort, China's prevention and control system for major infectious diseases including AIDS has improved and its capacity for disease containment enhanced, said Wang Hesheng, deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC) and chief of the national administration of disease control and prevention.

China's efforts

The number of HIV screening laboratories and testing sites nationwide has expanded to over 50,000.

China has established a national HIV/AIDS treatment and drug supply system covering 2,517 counties. More than 90 percent of HIV carriers have received antiretroviral therapy, and more than 95 percent have achieved success in their treatment.

Substantial progress has been made in the containment of HIV/AIDS. In 2022, China's mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV declined to 3 percent.

The awareness of HIV prevention and control knowledge has also increased among key populations.

These accomplishments owe much to China's initiatives to contain HIV/AIDS.

Starting in 2004, China initiated support policies for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, including the provision of medications and living assistance. In addition, orphans of deceased AIDS patients receive free education.

China has issued four five-year action plans aimed at curbing the spread of AIDS since 2000. In 2019, the NHC collaborated with nine other departments to develop the implementation plan for containing AIDS (2019-2022).

UN: AIDS can be ended by 2030

The world is finding ways to end AIDS. 

An estimated 39 million people around the world were living with HIV in 2022, data from a United Nations (UN) AIDS program, UNAIDS, displayed. HIV can progress to AIDS if left untreated.

According to a report released by the UNAIDS in July, it is possible to end AIDS by 2030 if countries demonstrate the political will to invest in prevention and treatment and adopt non-discriminatory laws.

"We have a solution if we follow the leadership of countries that have forged strong political commitment to put people first and invest in evidence-based HIV prevention and treatment programs," the report said.

It said an effective response to HIV also meant adopting non-discriminatory laws and empowering community networks, among other initiatives. People living with HIV or AIDS in many countries face stigma, discrimination and violence.

"Progress has been strongest in the countries and regions that have the most financial investments, such as in eastern and southern Africa, where new HIV infections have been reduced by 57% since 2010," the report added.

Last year, 1.3 million people became newly infected with HIV and 630,000 died from AIDS-related illnesses, according to UNAIDS.

(With input from agencies)