December 1st is the 31st "World AIDS Day",and the theme of this year is “Knowing your status through HIV testing, preventing AIDS and sharing health”. Reporters learned from the CDC(The Center for Disease Control and Prevention)that testing is the only way for people to know the status of HIV infection.Once high-risk behavior occurs, people should take the initiative to do testing without hesitation.At present, free consultation are available in 4 outpatient clinics in Yichang City. If sexual invasionor high-risk behavior soccur, they can save themselves within 72 hours.

　　In recent years, full coverage of HIV nucleic acid testing in blood for clinical use has been achieved in Yichang City,and zero cases are reported through blood transfusion and transmission of blood products. At the same time, full coverage of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of AIDS has been implemented, and mother-to-child transmission has been effectively controlled.The "Medical and preventive cooperation" mode has been vigorously promoted,enhancing the detection of infected persons and the anti-virus treatment.

　　Experts from CDC(The Center for Disease Control and Prevention) suggest that people who have a history of high-risk sexual behavior, including heterosexual or homosexual sexual behavior without using condom( once or more), spouses or partners of HIV-infected persons, drug users sharing needles with others,and those receiving teeth extraction or tattoos in informal medical units, etc., need timely HIV testing.At the same time, STD(Sexually Transmitted Disease)patients and partners who are ready to get married had better take the initiative to receive AIDS testing.

　　According to the statistics, from January to October this year, more than 5,000 people in Yichang City have received free voluntary counseling and testing services for AIDS.

　　At present, there are four AIDS voluntary counseling and testing clinics in Yichang City: VCT (HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing) Clinic of Yichang Center for Disease Control and Prevention (No. 254 Yiling Avenue), Yichang First People's Hospital (No. 4 Hudi Road),Yichang Third People's Hospital (No. 23 Gangyao Road),and Yichang Maternal and Child Health Hospital (No. 118 Yiling Avenue).

　　All testing institutions will follow the principles of voluntariness and confidentiality and strictly protect the personal information of consultants, so the public does not have to worry about revealing their personal privacy.People who have high-risk behaviors can go for free counseling and testing if they have doubts. Once the high-risk sexual behavior occurs with in72 hours, AIDS can be effectively prevented by using PEP( Post Exposure Prophylaxis)with a prevention rate of 95%.(Reporter Zhang Tingting; Correspondents Liu Huarong, Zhang Huiqi)