On January 10th, news of the increasing proportion of elderly people in China with HIV/AIDS made it to the top of the trending searches, sparking concern.
According to a report by “China News Weekly”, in December last year, 79-year-old Grandpa Yuan was hospitalized several times for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Frequent infections raised suspicions among doctors, leading to the discovery that he had contracted HIV/AIDS. He was transferred to Guangzhou AIDS Treatment Designated Hospital, the Infection Department of Panyu Center Hospital, Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University, for treatment.
When asked when he may have been infected, Grandpa Yuan looked puzzled. He had been a widower for over a decade and would go out to find sexual partners whenever the need arose. “I have no idea when I got infected. The other person is also in their fifties or sixties and we never used condoms.”
Grandpa Yuan believed that at his age, there was no need to use condoms. The possibility of contracting HIV/AIDS never crossed his mind.
The above report sparked discussions among netizens. Many believe that Grandpa Yuan’s actions could be considered soliciting prostitution.
Some netizens expressed concerns about the poor sanitation conditions among the lower class in mainland China.
Grandpa Yuan’s experience is not an isolated case. In recent years, there has been a continuous increase in the proportion of elderly people in China infected with HIV/AIDS.
Statistics from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that the voluntary testing rate among the elderly is low, and late disease detection is quite common. Studies predict that by 2035, the proportion of elderly HIV/AIDS patients will approach 33% of the total HIV/AIDS patients, necessitating the attention of the entire society.
An article by the blogger “Encyclopedia Think Tank” stated that the proportion of elderly people in China infected with HIV/AIDS continues to rise. This phenomenon is like a time bomb hidden in the corner of society, silently threatening the health of the elderly and the stability of society. The statistics from the CDC vividly reflect the severity of the problem. Many elderly people like Grandpa Yuan find themselves in a vulnerable position, with the disease already at a more serious stage, posing significant challenges to their health and burdening their families and society.
The article mentioned, “What is even more concerning is the prediction that by 2035, elderly HIV/AIDS patients will account for nearly 33% of all HIV/AIDS patients, serving as a heavy warning for the entire society. This huge number undoubtedly sounds a loud alarm. It reflects a severe lack of health knowledge among the elderly and insufficient societal attention to this issue. With the development of society, the emotional and physiological needs of the elderly should no longer be ignored. It is imperative to enhance sexual health education among the elderly, disseminate knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention and control, make them aware of the dangers of unprotected sexual behavior, and change outdated beliefs. Additionally, medical institutions should intensify efforts to promote HIV/AIDS testing among the elderly, enhance the convenience and accessibility of testing, for early detection and treatment, thereby reducing the transmission risk of HIV/AIDS among the elderly.”