Sunday 28th November 2010, Beijing: Now in its second year, the Positive Commitment Award Ceremony took place this Sunday in Beijing’s Caochangdi International Art Village. People working in the field of HIV came together with people living with HIV to award prizes to medical personnel, government officials and international NGOs, in recognition of their hard work and contributions to improving the lives of people living with HIV in China. Also present at the meeting were Mr. Zhang Wenkang, President of the Chinese Assocaition of HIV & STD Prevention and Control and Mr. Mark Stirling, Country Coordinator for UNAIDS. UNDP China office and Marie Stopes International China Office provided strong support for the ceremony.

The number of people estimated to be living with HIV in China has already exceeded 700,000. In recent years, the Chinese government has stepped up efforts to provide treatment and care to people living with HIV and this has allowed treatment services to reach 50,000 adults and 1000 children. However, the number of people living with HIV urgently in need of treatment is estimated to exceed these numbers by a factor of two. In many regions, local government departments are paying insufficient attention to the HIV response. Medical personnel often lack experience, and medical support and medical insurance not relating to antiretroviral treatment is often insufficient, limiting the promotion of HIV treatment services. In addition to these issues, stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV remains the primary obstacle to China’s HIV response.

Chinese NGOs have continued to work with the government to expand and enhance treatment services for PLHIV, through rolling out peer education, mobilizing communities to utilize testing and treatment services, and report back to government on the situation on the ground, attempting to minimize the harm done by HIV to society.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Mark Stirling, UNAIDS China Country Coordinator said that, “…the Positive Commitment Award is the strongest form of recognition for individuals and organisations working to support and help individuals and communities living with HIV. At the same time, by recognizing these individuals and organisations, the prize encourages others to take the initiative, overcome difficulties and work to achieve positive results. The Positive Commitment Award also helps us to understand that in the response to HIV, those people and communities living with HIV have a critical role to play. If we are to achieve the goals of increasing coverage of HIV prevention and treatment services, the participation of those living with HIV is essential.”

Thomas Cai, Coordinator of the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) said, “People often criticize healthcare workers and government officials, but many of these people are doing amazing work. Without them, many of us here would not be standing here today.” He continued, “…we are here today to thank them for the work they have done, and to look forward to even more positive results in future. We look forward to seeing more and more NGOs, government officials and healthcare workers joining the fight against HIV, following the examples set by those receiving the prize today.”

The Positive Commitment Award was established by ITPC with the objective of letting those working silently on the front lines of the HIV response know that the community will never forget what they have done for those impacted by HIV. The prize represents recognition by the community.

The recipients of this year’s Positive Commitment Award were as follows:

Award for promotion of community international programmes: Medecins Sans Frontieres France, Johnson and Johnson Co., Li Wenjing (Ford Foundation), Liu Liqing (Marie Stopes International).

Award for Treatment and Care: Chen Shixiao (Sichuan, Chengdu City Infectious DiseaseHospital, Infectious Disease Department), Li Xiaoping (Hunan, Changsha City InfectiousDisease Hospital), Du Liqun (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning City No. 4 People’s Hospital), Tang Zhirong (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control).

Award for Policy Implementation: Liao Yun (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Liuzhou City, Luzhai County Bureau of Health, Han Delin (Sichuan Province, Chengdu City Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, STD & HIV Department).

Special Award: Dr. Xu Lianzhi, China Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Centre for STD & HIV Prevention and Control, Mr. Shang Yifu

Also taking place on Sunday was the opening ceremony of the “Absolute Distance” Contemporary Art Exhibition and Prize Giving Ceremony. Artists spent time in Guangxi,Yunnan and Shanxi with people living with HIV. These people lived in a variety of areas, and were infected through different modes of transmission. The artists ate, lived, worked and experienced life together with these people, and experienced their real lives. They then worked to produce artworks which highlighted the lives and conditions experienced by these people. During the exhibition, held before the 23rd World AIDS Day, UNDP hopes to mobilize all sectors of society to fight to remove stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

Background information:

What is the Positive Commitment Award?

The Positive Commitment was initiated by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) China. The award recipients are selected by people working in the fields of HIV prevention and treatment, and PLHIV NGOs.

The four awards are:

·        Award for Treatment and Care (Doctors, nurses)

·        Award for Policy Implementation (Government departments, disease control departments and relevant programmes)

·        Award for promotion of community international programmes: (International Cooperation Programmes, Donors, Foundations)

·        Special Award (Individual or group who have made an exceptional contribution)

For more detailed information please visit the website of the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition China: www.itpc-china.org