New Delhi (AsiaNews) –The battle against AIDS is gaining ground in Asia. Particularly in the South West where there were “only” 340thousand new cases reported compare to the 140thousand of 2001 (but it is on the rise in Indonesia and Vietnam where the number of those infected has doubled in 5 years), even if there are still 4 million people sufferers (out of the 33.2 million worldwide) and 270 thousand dead in one year (2.1 million worldwide).  According to the United nations report published on the eve of today’s World Day against Aids, the situation is stable in the Middle East while it has worsened in Eastern Asia with over 92 new cases of infection compared to 77 thousand in 2001, and above all in central Asia where drug dependency is on the increase.  Infection rates among Asian women are also on the rise, now 29% are carriers (only 26% in 2001).

In India, although there are 2.5 million people living with AIDS, infection rates is less widespread than feared and there are frequent initiatives and information campaigns on prevention, promoted both by the government and private groups.  Today Christ Church in Bangalore, is hosting over 5 thousand young people to witness – as Archbishop Bernard Moras, recalls – their will to “stop AIDS and promote life”, by living the Christian values and virtues on a daily basis.

In Mumbai the diocesan committee Human Fie and the Ghandi centre of studies have organised a meeting on “the value of human life”.

The United Nation’s agency for the prevention of AIDS estimated that there are over 50 million people at risk of infection in China and have urged the government to decisively intervene.  But according to Health Minister Chen Zhu, the spreading of the virus is falling, with “only” 39.866 new cases of HIV registered between January and October.  Yesterday President Hu Jintao visited those dying of AIDS, shaking their hands and speaking with them.  He reiterated the need for “prevention and a collective commitment on a national level” against its spread.

In Thailand infection rates are falling, also tank to the public programmes for safe sex and for the distribution of antiretroviral drugs, but it remains a major problem among drug addicts: in the last 20 years between 40 and 60% of them have contracted HIV, according to data Human Rights Watch. The country is criticised because it treats drug addicts as criminals, without having adequate prevention and care programmes.