The new Health Ministry rules vow to "severely punish those responsible in the blood stands for the serious blood transmitted diseases caused by the unqualified blood". They also ban the sale of blood products for experimental stem cell treatments.

The regulations issued by the Ministry of Health are "to ensure the safety of blood and regulate the operation of blood stations", a statement posted on the ministry Web site said.

The regulations take effect next March and are intended to put into effect China's Blood Donation Law, which took force in 1998.

The move follows a series of cases in which hospital patients were infected with HIV in hospitals after receiving blood sold by HIV carriers.

A blood seller in northeastern Jilin province infected at least 23 people with HIV before being diagnosed with the disease, the official Xinhua reported on Saturday.

In northeastern Heilongjiang province, 19 people diagnosed with AIDS sued a hospital because they got AIDS using the blood the hospital provided, which was provided by an HIV carrier, Xinhua reported.

China said it had 135,630 confirmed HIV infections at the end of September and warned that the spread of AIDS could affect the nation's economic development. The country's real number of infections is many times higher, officials say.

During the 1990s, most of China's AIDS sufferers contracted the disease by selling plasma, especially in central Henan province.

China's increasingly mobile population now faces a broader risk as more infections occur through drug injection and sexual contact.

Jeffrey Busch, the chairman of the Safe Blood International Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit organisation that is advising China on blood collection, said the country had improved blood hygiene but still lacked many protections.

"China has built the buildings, equipped the buildings, and staffed them, but not everyone has had proper training," he said in an interview.

Busch said that blood transfusions still accounted for a "significant number" of new HIV infections in China.

Rethink strategies in the fight against AIDS: UN expert

KOLKATA, India, Dec 9 (Reuters) - A former prostitute has taken over as head of a global HIV/AIDS project in eastern India, promising to completely wipe out new infections in one of Asia's biggest red light districts.

Bharati Dey, 40, took over as director of the World Health Organisation-funded HIV/AIDS project for some 6,000 prostitutes of Sonagachi, a teeming red light district in northern Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta.

"My chief goal is to ensure that not a single sex worker offers her service without condoms. We want to bring down the infection rate to zero," Dey, who took over on Dec. 1, told Reuters.

Sonagachi's HIV/AIDS control programme has brought infection rates down to around five percent from around 90 percent a decade ago, partly by encouraging prostitutes to refuse sex without condoms.

The Sonagachi programme's success saw the U.S.-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation use it as a model for a $200 million project in six other Indian cities.

In India, the state runs HIV/AIDS campaigns also through groups like Dey's Durbar Mahila Samanway Samiti, an umbrella organisation of some 65,000 prostitutes in eastern India.

Experts say, the spread of the deadly HIV virus was being fueled in India by millions of poor male migrants who go to cities for work. Some of them get infected after visiting prostitutes and pass it on to their wives in rural areas.

"It's very difficult to ensure 100 percent condom use but we will strive to achieve that. We also aim to achieve empowerment of sex workers," Dey said, sitting in her one-room office in the middle of a row of brothels.

"AWARENESS GROWING"

Dey became a prostitute at 17 to earn a living for herself and her son after being deserted by her husband.

At Sonagachi, she fought off criminals, bribed policemen to avoid harassment and participated in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, asking fellow prostitutes to turn away clients who refused to use condoms.

"Now many sex workers buy condoms with their money and don't wait for the free ones from the government. This means there is growing awareness," said Dey, adding that she does not regret becoming a prostitute.

Experts say it is the effort of people like Dey which could help India contain the spread of HIV/AIDS.

India, which has 5.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS -- second only to South Africa -- announced earlier this year that new infections had fallen to 28,000 in 2004 from 520,000 in 2003, sparking disbelief among voluntary groups.

However, UNAIDS last month said the number of new infections in India was far more than what official data showed and epidemics in some pockets were alarming.

In between her long meetings with health workers, Dey leads teams of volunteers through Sonagachi's narrow, stench-filled lanes, telling prostitutes and their clients about the danger of HIV/AIDS.

"Information and awareness is the only weapon. We know that. Our clients have to understand that too."

Appeal for treatment for children, the forgotten face of the AIDS epidemic

A review of recent epidemiological and behavioural data in 'Evidence for HIV decline in Zimbabwe', released by UNAIDS on Wednesday, said the incidence of new HIV infections had also declined.

The review, conducted by a team that included research staff from Britain's Imperial College, the prevalence of HIV among pregnant women declined from 26 percent in 2002 to 21 percent last year, and other data showed a similar trend.

The findings back up an earlier national survey, released in October, that showed that Zimbabwe's HIV prevalence rate had dropped dramatically in the past two years.

According to the October study - carried out by UNAIDS, the US Centres for Disease Control and several universities - the percentage of Zimbabweans between the ages of 15 and 49 infected with HIV dropped from 24.6 percent to 20.1 percent in the last two years.

However, UNAIDS epidemiologist Peter Ghys has cautioned that "there is still a lot of prevention work to be done".

The latest review observed that a change in sexual behaviour had helped reduce HIV prevalence and incidence in Zimbabwe, "in particular, a substantial increase in condom use with non-regular partners and an increase in faithfulness have contributed to the decline".

Ghys said there was also concern over the impact on thousands of Zimbabweans displaced by the government's clean-up campaign, Operation Murambatsvina, which had disrupted HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. The government's controversial campaign has left more than 700,000 people homeless.

Explaining the reasons for the apparent decline in HIV prevalence, Ghys pointed out that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zimbabwe was 'old' compared to most other countries in the region, possibly dating back to the mid-1980s. "It [Zimbabwe] has had a longer period of time to respond to the crisis, as compared to South Africa, where the epidemic began in the 1990s."

Northern African countries like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the epidemic began in the early 1980s, have also recorded a significant decline in HIV incidence.

Ghys said the review's findings indicated that HIV/AIDS prevention programmes directed at changing sexual behaviour were responsible for the lower number of new cases.

Local research in the eastern province of Manicaland showed that young Zimbabweans were delaying becoming sexually active, promiscuity was on the decline and women with frequently changing partners were increasingly using condoms.

The Manicaland studies, conducted in a phased general population survey, showed that between 1998 and 2000, and 2001 and 2003, HIV prevalence declined from 4.9 percent to 2.7 percent in males aged 17 to 24 years, and from 15.9 percent to 7.9 percent in females in the age group 15 to 24 years.

According to Ghys, the Zimbabwean government's decision to decentralise its HIV/AIDS prevention programme had also proven to be an effective strategy in curbing HIV incidence. "Very early in the epidemic the government was charging an AIDS levy, which helped fund HIV prevention programmes at the district level."

Singapore informs spouses of HIV-positive partners

Tue Dec 6, 2005 2:26 AM ET

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's Health Ministry has started informing spouses of HIV-positive patients directly about their partners' disease in order to curb the spread of AIDS, the ministry said.

Letters had been hand-delivered to 41 women since July informing them that their husbands were HIV-positive, the ministry quoted Senior Minister of State for Health Balaji Sadasivan as saying in a speech made on Monday.

A ministry official declined to elaborate on Tuesday, referring to the ministry's Web site for more details.

"Previously, some wives were not aware of their spouse's HIV status and so they were at risk of the HIV infection. Since July this year, we have informed the wife when the infected husband had not informed her of his positive HIV status," Sadasivan said, according to a text of his speech posted on the Web site.

"Marriage and the women's own fidelity are not enough to protect them against HIV infection. Most have been infected despite staying faithful to their partners," he added.

The letters advise spouses to get screened for HIV and give them information about counseling services available at the Communicable Disease Center.

The ministry said two of the women who received the notifications had since tested positive for the virus.

In July the Singapore government scrapped a law which required the patient's consent to inform their spouse. The move to sanction breaching patient confidentiality was part of a raft of measures introduced to fight the spread of AIDS.

Although the wealthy Southeast Asian city-state has one of Asia's lowest levels of HIV infection, it has said it is tightening defenses due to an increase in cases, notably among gays and among heterosexual men who have casual sex.

Singapore has recorded a total of 2,584 HIV infections to date, of whom 954 have died, 631 have full-blown AIDS and 999 show no symptoms.

From January to October this year, 198 people were diagnosed with HIV, less than 10 percent of them women, the ministry said.

In July, the ministry introduced HIV testing as part of the antenatal screening routine for pregnant women.

A pilot project to distribute HIV self-test kits at locations where gays socialize would soon be launched, Sadasivan said.

Controversial legislative measures, such as compulsory HIV testing for couples about to marry and criminalising the act of spreading the HIV virus with or without intent, have also been considered but have not been implemented.

The men, aged between 21 and 37, admitted to making false declarations when they donated blood in 2004, an offence under Singapore law, the court official said. One man had participated in an orgy and then lied about how many sex partners he had had, while four men did not admit when they gave blood that they had had homosexual partners, according to court documents.

"Four were sentenced to eight months in prison while one was jailed for ten months" on Wednesday, said Joyce Loh, a spokeswoman for the district court.

All blood donations in Singapore are tested for HIV to prevent infections in recipient patients. The donations made by the five men were destroyed.

Under the state's law, a blood donor who gives false or misleading information can face a maximum jail term of two years and a fine of S$20,000 ($11,830).

Although the Southeast Asian city-state has one of Asia's lowest levels of HIV infection, an increase in the number of cases in the last year -- particularly among gays and heterosexual men who have had casual sex -- has prompted tougher regulations.

In July, the Health Ministry introduced HIV testing as part of the antenatal screening routine for pregnant women, in a bid to eliminate HIV infection of babies.

The ministry also said patient confidentiality can be breached in order to inform the spouses of HIV-positive patients about their partner's illness.

Controversial legislative measures, such as compulsory HIV testing for couples about to marry and criminalising the act of spreading the HIV virus with or without intent, have also been considered but have not been implemented.

Singapore has recorded a total of 2,584 HIV infections to date, of whom 954 have died, 631 have full-blown AIDS and 999 show no symptoms.

From January to October this year, 198 people were diagnosed with HIV; fewer than 10 percent were women, statistics from the health ministry's website showed. ($1=1.691 Singapore Dollar)

Although dozens of people were sitting at the square's many café terraces, no one interfered. Wisam left the scene with a bruised face and bloody nose.

"I immediately filed charges, but the police only made fun of my shaved legs," he recounted. "They noted down everything, but never acted".

Despite this incident and others like it, however, Lebanese homosexuals note that 'gay-bashing' is relatively uncommon in Lebanon, compared to other Arab countries.

"Generally speaking, the Lebanese are quite tolerant," said Mounir, a member of the Beirut-based gay rights group Helem. "As long as you don't provoke them, they won't easily take offence."

"I've always been open about my sexuality," Mounir added. "My family and friends know I'm gay and I've never had any problems. The Lebanese gay community has a problem with political and religious leaders, not the people."

Group helps protect rights

Founded in 2001, Helem – an acronym in Arabic for the "Lebanese protection of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community" – boasts the distinction of being the first gay rights group in the Arab World.

The group is also involved in broader political issues. In 2003, Helem members participated in anti-Iraq war demonstrations in Beirut, during which a rainbow flag – the international symbol of homosexuality – was waved openly for the first time alongside the banners of religious, leftist and nationalist parties.

Along with launching awareness campaigns about homosexuality and related issues, such as HIV/AIDS, the non-profit organisation also publishes a quarterly publication called Barra, meaning "Out" in Arabic, of which Mounir is the editor.

Written in Arabic, French and English, the magazine covers a variety of subjects, varying from fashion columns to more serious reportage about people living with HIV/AIDS.

While Barra does not have an official license to publish, Mounir has little fear for the magazine's future.

"Every association in Lebanon has the right to issue and distribute publications," he pointed out. "It's a very moral, intellectual magazine. We don't run pornography," he said.

Like its flagship publication, Helem itself lacks official registration as an organisation.

"The Ministry of Interior has yet to give us a registration number," said Helem member George Azzi. "But according to current jurisprudence, the fact that we have paid and received a receipt of registration will be accepted in court as proof of state recognition."

Problems with the law

According to gay rights activists, the main obstacle faced by Lebanon's gay community is article 534 of the Lebanese penal code, which declares "penetrative sex against nature" to be a crime punishable by up to a year in jail.

"From the start, one of our main aims has been the removal of article 534," said Mounir, although "the article is seldom used these days".

However, "while the legal system may not implement the article today, it could tomorrow," he said.

Jail time aside, article 534 makes homosexuals vulnerable to abuse in other ways.

One such Lebanese man, for example, recounted a shake-down by police who threatened to arrest him if he did not pay them money and give him the names of other homosexuals.

"The problem in Lebanon isn't so much with society, although there's still a lot of ignorance," said Nadim who works as a photographer. "The problem is the state. If I get beaten up and go to the police, I could be jailed for being gay, not my attackers."

On 12 November, police raided the "Acid" nightclub in Beirut, widely known as a hangout for homosexuals, arresting eleven people. While most were released the same night, three of them remained in custody for three days before being released.

A week later, police raided another popular club among the ostracised community. While several club goers were checked for possession of drugs, however, no arrests were made.

Although a parliamentary subcommittee is reportedly considering the amendment of article 534, along with other laws relating to sexual offences, Mounir entertains little hope of real legislative change, at least in the short term.

"There was a proposal to adjust the law, but it was withdrawn without reason," he said. "I suppose the issue of gay rights is still too sensitive for public figures to stand up for."

Lebanon more tolerant than other Arab nations

While the lives of Lebanese homosexuals are not made easier by the existence of article 534, a level of social acceptance, not to mention Beirut's lively gay club scene, suggests that Lebanon is considerably more tolerant of homosexuality than other Arab countries.

In April, for example, human rights watchdog Amnesty International reported the imprisonment of 35 men in Saudi Arabia, arrested because of their sexual orientation. Four of them were sentenced to 2,000 lashes and two years in prison, while the remainder received 200 lashes and up to a year of imprisonment each.

In the United Arab Emirates, 26 gay men of Asian and Arab origin were arrested in November. While foreign nationals involved were deported, police officer Najm al-Sayar told Reuters at the time that UAE citizens convicted of wrongdoing would "be given psychological, medical and sociological treatment," as well as "male hormones".

The situation for Egyptian homosexuals, too, has deteriorated since May 2001, when 52 men were arrested in a police raid in the now infamous Queen Boat nightclub. A Cairo court later convicted 21 of the defendants for "debauchery," sentencing each to three years in jail.

According to a March 2004 report by Human Rights Watch, hundreds of men continue to find themselves in Egyptian prisons because of their sexual preferences, with the authorities regularly arresting and mistreating men suspected of homosexual conduct.

Gay rights activists like Mounir, meanwhile, express surprise that homosexuality has become such a taboo in the Arab world, given a long history of relative tolerance.

"Homosexuality was never a big issue in Arab culture. We have lots of famous poets and singers who were gay," he said. "Abu Nawas openly wrote about love between men, and Tuwais, one of the most famous singers in Arab history, wasn't just gay, but almost a woman".

AIDS pandemic in Africa is destroying family structures