(h/t to Go Kunming) for highlighting the work PSI/ China in an interview earlier in August.

When I first came to China, the work being done in HIV/ AIDS was still highly touchy.  Full details over the blood contamination cases was jsut coming to light, the infection rates of HIV were still well guarded, and programs were still run through the military hospitals.

A slice of this is still visible through the interview where the Communications Director, Clare Ye Sheng, responded to a question

Have PSI programs met with any resistance from its target population on a cultural basis?

CYS: Although PSI is an international NGO based in the US, we strongly believe in local engagement as one of our primary working principles. PSI/China’s role is to support the government of China in combating HIV/AIDS and malaria. In addition, most of our staff are locally hired Chinese, so there are very few communication or cultural conflicts to deal with.

Obstacles that we do face derive mainly from a lack of awareness and correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention and social norms regarding relationships amongst the vulnerable population that our programs aim to help. For example, many female sex workers believe that they can prevent the transmission of disease through hygiene alone, and many villagers view mosquito nets as a source of warmth in winter rather than a method of preventing mosquito-borne diseases. We work to correct these misconceptions through targeted intervention based on extensive research to understand the barriers for them to adopt healthy behavior.

Over time though, we have seen where NGOs have been able to construct partnerships at various levels and with varying degrees of scale, and the Population Services International group looks like it has developed a strong program in the Yunnan area.

One of China’s three hottest infection zones, the primary cause of HIV/ AIDS historically was related to its proximity to the golden triangle - Drug usage and unprotected sex.

Collaborating with local and international agencies, Population Services International highlights 5 HIV/ AIDS programs on their China website:

• Drop-In Centers for Injecting Drug Users (IDUs): The Kunming Center’s main objective is drug demand and risk reduction through dissemination of information, education and communication materials, counseling services, peer education, family activities, referral services and condom promotion.
• Peer Education for IDUs: a peer education program targeting the large percentage of IDUs who are incarcerated in government-run detoxification centers.
• Outreach to Women: two drop-in centers targeted at female commercial sex workers as a place to gather for entertainment, relaxation and exercise in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment.
• Cross-border Outreach: implementing cross-border HIV prevention and behavior change communication campaigns aimed at high-risk populations.
• Mass Media and Behavior Change:PSI is helping spotlight HIV/AIDS issues among the general public through mass media campaigns, often featuring Asian superstars such as Coco Lee and Jackie Chan.

They have also implemented several Malaria focused programs.

to learn more about PSI/ China, you can view their China site here, or download their PDF document Risk Behavior Among Injecting Drug Users in Yunnan Province, China.

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