China's anti-AIDS efforts "impressive": UNICEF official

 BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) official has praised China's work over the last two decades in raising awareness¹ of HIV/AIDS prevention and care among AIDS-affected² families and their children.

Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF's China representative, said in an interview with Xinhua that there has been tremendous progress in the last 20 years in how the government and people have been supporting those affected by HIV/AIDS, their families and children, and in raising awareness about prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Progress has also been made in providing programs that are needed for families and for people affected by HIV and their children, so that "they can continue to live a life where they can reach their full potential," according to Mellsop.

UNICEF is very impressed with the engagement at both grass-roots and high levels, involving both the premier³ and the president, she said.

In particular, Mellsop said she was pleased to see the programs targeting prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, in which UNICEF is "very much engaged."

"China is moving toward complete elimination⁴ of transmission of HIV between mother and child, but there are still challenges ahead," she said.

There is still a lot of social stigma⁵ against people affected by HIV/AIDS, she warned, adding that more emphasis should be put on "ensuring that young people are aware of how to prevent transmission of HIV."

However, she added that "great strides have been seen in the provision of services for people affected by HIV."

On Monday, Mellsop was invited to a meeting, chaired by Vice⁶ Premier Li Keqiang, with people infected with HIV, anti-AIDS volunteers, members of non-governmental organizations and representatives of international organizations.

Li, a member of the Standing⁷ Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, heads a State Council commission on the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

"It was a real pleasure to meet with Li and to have the opportunity to participate in his discussions with civil society groups," Mellsop said.

"Li listened very attentively⁸ to their concerns and came up with actions to address these concerns. His committed leadership in raising awareness about the challenges faced by families affected by HIV/AIDS is very impressive.

"We highly appreciate the Chinese government's continuous support for HIV/AIDS prevention and care, especially for children affected by HIV/AIDS and their families," she said.

She felt "really impressed" by the commitment of government at the very highest level to implementing⁹ programs to ensure people living with HIV/AIDS can access cares and services.

Mellsop mentioned Li's "pragmatic approach to discussing issues with civil society groups to seek better ways to support people affected by HIV/AIDS."

She said it was "very heartening to see an open discussion between civil society groups representing the needs and calls for attention to programming around HIV/AIDS."

She was also impressed by the vice premier's "awareness of the issues and his decisive actions on how programs can be improved to address the issues that civil society groups raised."

Mellsop said, "It is very important that all of us treat people who have HIV/AIDS as friends, as we treat any member of our families. They are very dear members of our society.

"We need to be very inclusive and hug them, shake hands with them in exactly the same way as we would with any other member of our families or with a friend."

UNICEF was the first international organization to jointly¹⁰ conduct anti-AIDS programs with the Chinese government.

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

4 elimination   

n.排除，消除，消灭

参考例句：

• Their elimination from the competition was a great surprise.他们在比赛中遭到淘汰是个很大的意外。
• I was eliminated from the 400 metres in the semi-finals.我在400米半决赛中被淘汰。

5 stigma   

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

参考例句：

• Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
• The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

8 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

10 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。