The Chinese government departments have decided to jointly publicize prevention knowledge of HIV/AIDS among children and youngsters, according to the Ministry of Health on Thursday.

The AIDS Prevention Committee of the State Council will release key information and set compose booklets on AIDS prevention to children and youngsters.

Committees of the Communist Youth League at various levels will arrange a series of publicity activities and send young volunteers to spread the knowledge to the countryside and communities in high-prevalence regions.

Health departments will strengthen training of staff in prevention techniques and management of mother-to-baby transmission of HIV.

Medical institutions will provide free consultation and testing to HIV-infected pregnant women and babies, as well as free medication and nutrition guidance.

Assistance and anti-stigma publicity based on household and community will also be promoted, and allocation of children left by AIDS victims will be improved, according to the ministry.

It is estimated that 400,000 children in China are affected by AIDS. They include HIV-positive children, caused by transmission from mother or blood transfusion; orphaned by parents who died of AIDS; having one or two parents who are suffering from the disease; adopted by others after parents died.

About 76,000 children who have lost one parent are under the age of 15, according to the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2006)