World Aids Day. -1st December

World AIDS Day raises awareness

Jakarta (1 December) - Today is World AIDS Day: the United Nations says 33 million people are infected with the HIV virus which can cause the disease.

The figures indicate that Indonesia currently has the world's highest rate of infection. Indonesia's first ever campaign against HIV/AIDS, which will encourage the use of condoms, is being launched today.

China is also marking World AIDS Day, with even the Miss World pageant, taking place at a Chinese resort, being used to raise HIV/AIDS awareness.

Earlier this week, the Chinese government announced that it will open a centre for research into the disease. For many years, China has viewed HIV/AIDS as a foreign problem which did not greatly affect the country.

source-Radio netherlands