Press announcement for Barry & Martin's Prize 2005

21 January 2006

The Trustees of the English foundation, Barry & Martin’s Trust, are pleased to announce the award of Barry & Martin’s Prize 2005 to two recipients in Xinjiang, namely 1) The Needle Syringe Programme in Yining City, Yili Prefecture and its volunteers led by Mushajiang Shateerjiang, Nuermaimaiti and Adili; and 2) the Infectious Diseases Hospital of the CDC of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in Urumqi, led by its director Doctor Yang Cheng Xin.

 Barry & Martin’s Prize has been awarded annually in China since 2000.  The previous winners have been Dr Zhang Beichuan, Qingdao Medical College (2000), Dr Wang Chun, Simao Prefectural CDC Yunnan (2001), Dr Xu Lianzhi, Beijing You’an Hospital (2002), Dr Gui Xien , Zhongnan Hospital , Wuhan University (2003), Nurse Wang Kerong, Beijing Ditan Hospital (2004).

The object of Barry & Martin’s Prize is to draw attention in
China to some of the excellent work being done in HIV education, prevention, treatment and care, and to set examples around China of good practice in this field.  The Needle Syringe Programme in Yining City , and the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Urumqi , have both done fine work.  They are examples of ordinary people and institutions doing their job in an extraordinary way.  

The Needle Syringe Programme in Yining is managed by the Yining City CDC and has been staffed by Community Leaders (Street Administration Officers) and by   volunteers since it started its operations in 2003.  It also enjoys the support of a joint venture of the Australian Agency for International Development, AusAID, and the Xinjiang Public Health Bureau.  Many of the volunteers are HIV positive and have dedicated themselves to the prevention of HIV resulting from drug use among other drug users in Yining City .  Their successful work in this field is being expanded to other parts of Xinjiang, including Urumqi and Kashgar.  The volunteers have cooperated closely with the health and public security authorities and other officials in Yining and they have made a tangible contribution to the prevention of HIV infection through drug use, which has been one of the principal causes of HIV in the border areas of China . 

The Infectious Diseases Hospital in Urumqi has been looking after HIV positive patients and those with AIDS in the final stages of life, especially the poorest victims from all over Xinjiang who cannot afford treatment.  This hospital sets an example of care and cleanliness, and understanding and good medical practice.  It has operated on very limited resources. 

Barry & Martin’s Trust was founded in England by Martin Gordon in 1996.  It has been working in and with China since that time on Aids education, prevention, treatment and care.  In addition to its annual prizes, the Trust brings Chinese doctors and nurses to London for training; and it brings doctors and nurses from London to conduct workshops around China , including Beijing , Yunnan , Guizhou , Guangxi and Xinjiang.  It supports the Aids work of Xinjiang Medical University Hospital and, jointly with the authorities of Dali Yunnan , it constructed the Peggy Health Centre at Dali, the first hospital building in China to be devoted principally to Aids care and prevention.  The Trust also supports work done by MSM groups around China in cooperation with the provincial CDC’s.  The Trust works closely with the Beijing Ditan and Beijing You’an Hospitals and supports the Red Ribbon Centre at Beijing Ditan Hospital . 

It is expected that the prizes will be awarded at a ceremony in Urumqi on 3 or 4 March 2006 . 

 

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