ADB approves grant for AIDS prevention in South China
( 2003-11-19 21:31) (Xinhua)
The Asian Development Bank
(ADB) has approved a technical assistance grant of 800,000 US dollars to help
reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission arising from a planned road project in
the southern Chinese province of Yunnan.
The grant, the first to China from ADB's Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund
financed by the British government, will help fund AIDS awareness, information,
and safe sex campaigns among local communities and migrant road workers along
the road project, which will run between Kunming and Ruili, the ADB said
Wednesday in a statement.
The assistance will also set up Human Immuno Deficiency Virus/ Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and sexually transmitted infection (STI)
prevention services at the contractors ' worksites and boost the HIV/AIDS
monitoring system.
The expressway, included in ADB's program for 2003-2005, will facilitate the
flow of migrant poor and seasonal workers between provinces.
"While the road project will significantly improve access to and from Ruili,
the increase in traffic and migration, as well as the large influx of
construction workers to build the road, could also accelerate the spread of
HIV/AIDS," explains Takako Yasukawa, an ADB health specialist.
High rates of HIV infection are generally found along transport routes,
border areas, and in regions experiencing higher seasonal and long-term
population mobility.
As traffic increases along the completed highway and beyond through the
national trunk road system, truck drivers could also contribute to accelerating
the spread of HIV and STIs.
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