According to friends of Chinese AIDS activist Tian Xi, he is expected to complete his prison sentence and be released on August 18, 2011. His family income is quite low, and they have no way to meet his medical costs. Friends and family have issued a call for donations to the following account.

Account name:  TIAN Xi

Bank: Bank of China
Runan Branch 中国银行汝南支行

Account number: 254608370972

Tian Xi contracted HIV and hepatitis B through a contaminated blood transfusion he received as a child. His continual petitioning and demands for government compensation to all victims of China’s tainted blood disaster led him into conflict with Henan authorities and ultimately to a one-year prison sentence.

Asia Catalyst has supported Tian Xi in the past with a scholarship to the International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, and has been active on his case (for more on our work on Tian Xi, see here and here). We believe that the appeal for donations is legitimate, and we encourage friends and supporters to contribute to Tian Xi’s fund as generously as possible.