HIV Discrimination Case In China, Walk-Up HIV Testing

by Douglas Hopper 0 comments

HIV Employment Discrimination In China?

A man in China has filed a lawsuit claiming he was denied a job after testing positive for HIV.  And more impressively, the local municipal court accepted his case. 

AP reports: "A municipal court in central China has accepted the country's first lawsuit alleging work discrimination because of HIV status, state media reported Tuesday."

If you are reporting on HIV/AIDS in China, tell us what you know about this story.  In recent years, global health leaders and advocates have pressed China to take a more active role in educating its citizens about the virus and how it is transmitted.  Is this case a sign the government is making an effort to destigmatize HIV/AIDS?

HIV Testing: Why Aren't More People Doing It?

J2J Fellow Kenny Goldberg investigates why more people in the United States don't get tested for HIV, despite better resources and relatively low levels of stigma. 

"The Centers for Disease Control says one out of five Americans living with HIV is unaware of their status. The agency says these people are responsible for about half of all new infections."

Is getting more people tested just a matter of convenience? 

Goldberg visits the San Diego County mobile HIV testing unit to find out.  The county has streamlined HIV testing and made it just about as easy as grabbing a burger at the local drive-through.

"The rapid test requires only a swab of a person's mouth. If the results are negative, that's the end of the process. If the results are positive, a follow-up test is done with a blood sample. Then, clients will be given referrals for support services and treatment."

Take a listen to Kenny's KPBS story and let us know if similar approaches are underway in your community.