[NEWS] Over One Hundred Sign Petition Calling on China to Reject Real-Name HIV Testing

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In early February 2012 the Chinese Ministry of Health announced that it intends to introduce so-called “real-name” HIV
testing. The measure aims to help health officials to follow up with those who test positive. Instead, the new policy would discourage many people from getting tested at all.

Asia Catalyst supports the China Alliance for People Living with HIV/AIDS (CAP+), the China Gay Health Forum and many other Chinese AIDS activists in calling on the Ministry of Health to reject real-name testing and strengthen privacy protections at hospitals and testing sites. China’s leaders should pass–and enforce–stronger laws to ban discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.

See our letter to the Minister of Health, Dr.Chen Zhu here and see our full list of signatories to our online petition after the jump.

 

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[NEWS] UNAIDS China Chief Speaks Out on Real-Name HIV Testing

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In a brief interview with 新京报 Mark Stirling, Country Coordinator for UNAIDS China, points out that confidentiality is the key to the success of HIV testing policies. Rampant discrimination is one of the key factors that discourage people from taking HIV tests. Unfortunately, institutional discrimination by health care providers and employers are widespread in China, and many key affected populations (sex workers, injection drug users, and men who have sex with men) also face stigma related to their identities. Stirling observes that while public education on non-discrimination is important, the revision of discriminatory laws and policies is also essential in order to reduce institutional discrimination. 
Stirling points out that in one Beijing community testing center, 128 out of 351 people surveyed decided not to take the HIV test after being told they would have to give their real names.  He calls for support for HIV testing by community-based organizations, especially as a way to reach key affected populations. You can read the full text of the interview (in Chinese) here.
Please join us in signing the petition here to call for stronger confidentiality protections and stronger protections against discrimination.