[COMMENTARY] Rapid HIV Tests in China: The Voice From Community-based Organizations| 社区快检在中国,听听来自社区组织的声音

By Hou Ye

The debate around real-name HIV testing–sparked by proposals in Guangxi and Hunan provinces early this year–has pushed the issue of confidentiality once again to center stage. To decrease loss to follow-up among people who test positive for HIV (i.e. people not returning for their results), testing agencies should rigorously protect patients’ confidentiality. Without an expectation of confidentiality, people may be reluctant to return for test results and be HIV-identified. This issue is no longer just relevant to hospitals, as a growing number of community-based organizations have begun providing HIV screening to their members and clients. Many of these organizations work with key affected populations (KAPs), such as gay and male sex workers, provide HIV screening to their communities. It is important for these agencies to share their experiences.

随着前段时间广西、湖南等地拟立法推行艾滋病检测实名制引起社会各界激烈的讨论,感染者的隐私权成为关注焦点。值得注意的是,为降低艾滋病检测的阳性流失率,检测机构应该对个人信息严密的保护以及负责人的后续跟进#。因此近几年来,在中国各个地区出现了越来越多的社区小组,他们大多来自于重点或易感人群–男同、男性性工作者等,为社区成员提供HIV抗体快速初筛检测。

(more…)


[REPORT] Managing Strengths and Weaknesses: A Survey of Chinese Health Rights Groups (2012)

China Program Officer Mike Frick produced a snapshot of the current state of health rights groups in China, based off information gathered from NGOs that participated in Asia Catalyst’s coaching program. China’s 
civil
 society
 sector
 has 
grown
 rapidly
 over 
the
 past 
ten 
years, 
but
 it 
is
 still 
in
 an 
early
 stage
 of
 development. 
Because
 most
 grassroots 
NGOs are
 unable
 to 
legally 
register,
 and
 because
 most
 founders 
have 
little
 to 
no 
prior
 NGO
 or
 management 
experience,
 they
 face
 numerous
 challenges 
in 
the 
effort
 to
 professionalize 
operations
 while 
providing
 needed
 services 
and 
conducting
 policy
 advocacy.
 Read the full report here.


[URGENT APPEAL] Tian Xi Expected Out from Prison

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

(more…)


[UPDATE] Two Chinese NGOs

One step forward, two steps back: Chinese health rights lawyer Yu Fangqiang reports that he has established
a new NGO in Nanjing, while Shanghai’s Rainbow Space, a gender and sexuality center, lost their home in Shanghai. 

(more…)