Central China's Henan Province will conduct HIV/AIDS tests on 1.5 million local residents in a bid to better monitor the behavior of those who are most prone to the deadly disease.

AIDS prevention is especially urgent in Henan. The province has reported 14,000 AIDS infections, 6,000 of whom are HIV positive, since the first AIDS case was detected there 11 years ago. Most of the infections were caused by blood sampling through unofficial or illegal channels and the subsequent blood transfusion.

The province has incorporated knowledge on ADIS prevention and voluntary blood donation into the secondary school curriculum. The provincial AIDS database will be thoroughly examined and a complete mechanism on the quality control and evaluation of ADIS treatment will be set up.

The provincial government will also provide allowances to the senior citizens who are deprived of their relatives by AIDS and tuitions to the children orphaned by AIDS.

(CRI February 16, 2006)