A Discussion with Dr. Gao Yaojie on HIV/AIDS in China

On March 8, 2007, the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies, the CSIS HIV/AIDS Task Force, and Vital Voices Global Partnership co-hosted a private meeting with Dr. Gao Yaojie, a renowned HIV/AIDS campaigner from China’s Henan province.

Dr. Gao gained international attention and praise for her work in exposing the disastrous blood donation scandal in China’s central provinces which caused tens of thousands of Chinese farmers to become infected with HIV in the 1990s. She has continued her efforts to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment, at times in defiance of local authorities’ efforts to silence her.

During the March 8 meeting, Dr. Gao detailed her first encounters with the disease, her education campaign to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, and future challenges of combating the disease in China. Ms. Mary Yerrick, Vice Chair, Vital Voices Global Partnership, delivered introductory remarks. The discussion was moderated by Dr. J. Stephen Morrison, Executive Director, HIV/AIDS Task Force, CSIS, and Ms. Xiaoqing Lu, Research Associate, Freeman Chair in China Studies, CSIS.