Beijing authorities adopted measures to prevent young people from becoming infected with HIV.

According to statistics provided by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Health, the number of HIV/AIDS carriers has increased at an annual rate of 40 percent since 1998.

Most AIDS patients are young people aged 20-40, Guan Baoying, an official with the bureau, said when quoted by the Beijing Evening News.

Bars

Facing the situation, local authorities have established 40 billboards for the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the Sanlitun area of Beijing, where many bars are located.

This is the first time HIV/AIDS prevention advertisements have been posted in prosperous downtown areas, sources said.

Bars in Sanlitun receive approximately 1,000 consumers per day with the patronage reaching about 4,000 during weekends, among whom are mostly young people, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Haidian District Bureau of Health distributed free condoms to students at seven Beijing universities.

Materials covering HIV/AIDS prevention were also sent to college students.

At the Central University of Finance and Economics, students welcomed the free condoms.

But Peking University and Tsinghua University are reported not to agree to distribute condoms to students onsite.

Universities

Some experts say the universities are possibly afraid if they distribute condoms, students or the public may believe the universities are encouraging sexual relations among students.

Sources with the Haidian District Disease Prevention and Control Centre said university students have become a high-risk group for HIV/AIDS transmission.

All AIDS patients at universities were infected through sexual contact, sources said.

The precise amount of AIDS patients within universities is still unknown.

Zhu Jianfei, a Peking University student engaged in Red Cross work, said most students are aware of how to prevent contraction of the disease but some still fear those who suffer from HIV/AIDS.

(China Daily November 25, 2004)