Chinanews client, Beijing, November 29 (Reporter Zhang Ni) 2021 is the 40th anniversary of the HIV epidemic.
At present, in China, sexual transmission is the main way of transmission of AIDS, and young students have become a high-risk group of HIV infection.
How to help young people to effectively vaccinate the "social vaccine" and prevent AIDS from entering schools is not only an important public health issue, but also related to the future of the country.
Data map: College students collectively promote AIDS prevention.
Photo by Meng Delong
On the 27th, the 6th China Youth AIDS Prevention and Education Work Symposium was held in Beijing.
The symposium was hosted by the Social and Legal Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the China Youth AIDS Prevention and Education Project Office, co-organized by the China Economic and Social Council, and undertaken by the Beijing Qing Ai Education Foundation.
Zhang Qingli, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the China Economic and Social Council, attended the forum.
Shen Deyong, Director of the Social and Legal Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made a keynote speech.
He said that curbing the spread of AIDS and working hard to end the AIDS epidemic is an inherent requirement of "adhering to the people's supremacy." Strengthening youth AIDS prevention and education is a basic project to curb the AIDS spread. Youth AIDS prevention and education work requires the participation of the whole society.
He also emphasized that relevant units of the People’s Political Consultative Conference should give full play to their functions and advantages, actively participate in youth AIDS prevention and education work, better communicate and negotiate for youth AIDS prevention and control, better advise and govern, and better build consensus. , To make due contributions to protecting the physical and mental health of young people and fulfilling the historical mission of ending AIDS in China on schedule.
At the meeting, the challenges faced by youth AIDS prevention and control work became the focus of attention.
Just recently, the China Youth AIDS Prevention and Education Project Office and the Beijing Qing Ai Education Foundation released a white paper report on the "Qing Ai Project "Exploration and Practice of a Social Vaccine for Sex Education and Prevention of AIDS".
According to the analysis of the report, since China first reported AIDS cases in 1985, the AIDS epidemic has been rising rapidly.
Currently, young students have become a high-risk group of HIV infections.
Statistics show that in 2020, nearly 3,000 cases of young students aged 15-24 are newly reported nationwide, accounting for 22.3% of young people aged 15-24, and sexual transmission accounts for 98.6%.
In addition, among the newly reported cases of 15-24-year-old students in 2020, male homosexual transmission accounted for 81.7%, and heterosexual transmission accounted for 16.9%.
The Honorary Director-General of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, during a video speech at the meeting, emphasized that in recent years, there have been 3,000 new cases of HIV infections reported by young students aged 15-24 each year, and they are basically caused by unprotected sex. Infected, young people have become the most important group in China's AIDS prevention and control work.
She emphasized that in AIDS prevention and control strategies, publicity and education are the most important means, as well as the most economical and effective social vaccine.
It is hoped that through publicity and education, young people can take the initiative to learn about AIDS prevention and control, and establish the concept of being the first responsible person for their own health, so as to build a solid line of defense against AIDS.
The issue of sex education among young people has also aroused great attention from experts at the conference.
According to Zhang Yinjun, director of the China Youth AIDS Prevention and Education Project Office, adolescents enter puberty at the age of twelve or thirteen. The physiological impulse of sexual maturity and ignorance of sex itself have facilitated the spread of HIV.
"Modern families basically avoid sex education for their children. Schools carry out physical hygiene education for students, and basically avoid sex education. Sexual issues are basically limited. This leads to the absence of schooling for young people in the process of growing up, that is, sex education. Missed class." Zhang Yinjun said.
In Zhang Yinjun's view, the AIDS epidemic in some areas and high-risk groups in my country is still severe. AIDS enters schools and the age of HIV-infected people is becoming a huge threat to the physical and mental health of young people.
It is undoubtedly a tough battle to protect young people from AIDS, protect the health rights of women and children, and end the AIDS epidemic in less than 10 years.
Gu Mingyuan, honorary president of the Chinese Education Association and leader of the Qing Ai Project leadership group, believes that sex education has a wealth of content, in addition to physiological aspects, there are psychological, moral, social, and legal issues.
He emphasized that sex education is education throughout a child's life.
Sex education for young people can help them establish correct values, outlook on life, world outlook, and develop healthy lifestyles and good behavior habits.
The meeting announced the launch of the "End AIDS Sex Education and Humanities Education Universal Campaign."
The host of CCTV and the image spokesperson of the Qing Ai Project, Kang Hui, announced on behalf of the Qing Ai Project the "Declaration on Ending AIDS Sex Education and Humanistic Education Popularization Activities."
This activity is planned to use five years to popularize sex education and humanities education nationwide to let everyone know about the dangers of AIDS and keep everyone away from the source of AIDS infection.
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