China steps up fight against AIDS

China will increase medical aid and offer free education to hundreds of children orphaned by AIDS in a central province ravaged by the deadly disease.

Henan provincial government departments had issued a notice strengthening the relief work and aid for 2,012 orphans and elderly left alone after losing family to AIDS.

The notice took effect from April 2004. They also appealed to relatives of the orphans and welfare groups for help.

"The notice says that orphans who brought up by their relatives can attend primary school and junior middle school free of charge and will receive financial support to finish study at institutions of higher learning," Xinhua said.

AIDS orphans would be given 180 yuan ($22) and qualified elderly 240 yuan a year for medical care, along with another 160 yuan a month for living expenses, it said. The subsidies last until the orphans are 18, and kick in for elderly over 60.

The effort is part of a recent dramatic increase in activity by China to publicly combat the scourge of AIDS after years of ignoring or hiding a growing epidemic. Officials say between 840,000 and one million people in China have HIV.

Xinhua said official figures showed 11,844 people were confirmed HIV positive in Henan province and 5,499 had contracted AIDS; and one county, Shangcai, is home to 700 AIDS orphans.