AIDS stigma remains a major problem

The stigma of AIDS and discrimination against those with HIV remains a huge hindrance to prevention and treatment. AIDS patients say fear of the disease and misunderstandings about those who suffer are the biggest obstacles they face.

The stigma of AIDS and discrimination against those with HIV remains a huge hindrance to prevention and treatment.

More than 20 people with HIV live in this small village in Gu'an County of Hebei Province.

They are socially isolated.

Gu'an County resident infected with HIV,said, "There is great prejudice against us. Once I visited the village administrators, they broke the glass I used."

A joint report by the U.N. AIDS agency and China's Central Party School shows more than 40 percent of the two thousand people with HIV surveyed across the nation have faced discrimination.

Wang Jiankang, infected with HIV, said, "I can feel the discrimination from the people in my village. They never talk to me when I meet them."

Li Qiang, infected with HIV, said, "People don't want to have contact with me. They all fear me."