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SCMP Reporter

Activists say official survey  underestimates extent of virus

A study of 280,000 villagers in Henan province who sold blood in the 1990s found more than 36,000 - or about one in eight - have HIV or are Aids patients.

But Aids activists said the results, revealed by provincial health officials on Friday, underestimated the severity of the problem.

Ma Jianzhong, head of Henan's health department, said the comprehensive study examined 280,476 villagers in 51,187 villages in the province who had taken part in illegal blood sales in the 1990s.

The health check found 25,036 HIV carriers and 11,815 Aids patients. The figures included 2,003 cases previously unknown to the authorities.

Illegal blood sales were rampant in the province in the 1990s when 'blood heads' persuaded  cash-strapped villagers to sell blood on the black market.

The blood heads took the blood, extracted  the valuable plasma and  re-infused the villagers to prevent anaemia.

Many of the villagers  became infected with diseases such as hepatitis B and Aids as a result.

Mr Ma said the month-long study, which involved the mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of cadres, was meant to establish  the true picture of the infection.

Henan Party Secretary Li Keqiang   said the study had provided  valuable information on how to help  victims.

'The most important thing is to find out the truth of the matter and to have a full picture of the condition of people who sold blood,' Mr Li said. 'It is only  then possible to  help. At the same time, it helps us in putting a  stop to this chain of infection.'

He said the provincial government had put a lot of effort and resources into Aids prevention and  more resources would be allocated.

In 2000, the provincial government spent 16 million yuan on Aids prevention. This year the figure rose to 200 million yuan with the support of the central and provincial governments, China News reported yesterday.

Aids activist Zhou Xingping, who has been working with  Aids patients  in Henan since 2001, questioned the accuracy of the figures.

He said the study would fail to give a full account because many villagers who sold blood  had probably moved elsewhere.

'There are over 10 villages with serious Aids problems like Wenlou - where  more than 1,000 of its 3,000 residents are HIV carriers. There is no doubt that the number of HIV carriers is more than the official figure,' Mr Zhou said.

Aids activist Hu Jia ,  who has just returned from Henan, estimated more than 1 million people in the province had the HIV virus.

'Aids and medical workers told us  as many as 3 million people there  have sold blood. If 30 per cent later become HIV carriers, then there should be at least 1 million HIV carriers,' he said.

'[The study] was an effort by the government to show that they have done a good job in combating Aids,' he said, 'But [by publishing such a low figure] they are  trying to hide the iceberg below the surface and that is the real problem.'



1 in 8 who sold blood have HIV, says Henan