ASIA/CHINA - The Church in China, led by Jinde Charities, has been working in the frontline in the battle against AIDS

Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) – For years now, the Catholic Church in China, led by the AIDS Prevention and Control Office of Jinde Charities (the Catholic charitable association), has been working on the frontline in the battle against AIDS on the mainland. Several religious congregations have dedicated much of their activity to fighting this disease, not only from a health perspective, but above all, with a moral and spiritual perspective, following Christian teaching, maintaining strict collaboration with the national and international organizations, such as the Di Tai Hospital of Beijing, which specializes in treating AIDS patients.
The Congregation of Saint Joseph, of the Diocese of Shi Jia Zhuang is one of the many active Catholic groups in this area. The AIDS Prevention and Control Office of Jinde Charities has been able to create a network with courses (designed for married and engaged couples, university students, immigrants, etc.), encounters (with similar groups, authorities, the sick, pastoral ministers, Catholic volunteers, etc.), frequent public events (in the parish, diocese, or ecclesial base community in collaboration with local authorities, and offer support to the sick in the clinic.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph work in the Di Tai Hospital in Beijing and in many other Centers for AIDS patients throughout the country, including those run be Buddhists. Several of the Buddhist university students have been impressed after accompanying the sisters on their visit to 40 families affected by AIDS in one town. Today, these youth are the link between Catholics and Buddhists in spreading the word on how to prevent AIDS. Today, there are AIDS Prevention and Control Offices of Jinde Charities located throughout the country. One interesting characteristic is that the volunteers are Catholics and non-Catholics, and thus, funding is provided by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. While it is well-respected by all, the Office is also a living testimony of the collaboration between the Catholic community and society.
According to the most recent statistics published by the Chinese Health Minister, from January to September 2008, on the mainland there have been nearly 700,000 cases (of these, 440,000 do not know that they are infected), 260,000 HIV-positive, 77,000 have developed AIDS, 34,864 have died from AIDS, and an average of 140 are infected each day. Among these, 40.4% were caused by heterosexual relations, 5.1% by homosexual relations, 28.3% by drug addiction. The increase from 2006-2007 was 45.04% and reveals an alarming situation. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 1/12/2008)