AEGiS-IFRC: China: "Sharing the Sunshine" with HIV positive migrant workers

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

China: "Sharing the Sunshine" with HIV positive migrant workers

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - 15 May 2009
Sultan Ahmed, HIV delegate in China

"When I found out that I was HIV positive, I wanted to commit suicide. I did not have any desire to live. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat. I was physically so weak that I could not walk properly. I couldn't share my feelings with anyone because of fear of being stigmatized," says Long*, a forty-five year old migrant worker in Suzhou who recently tested positive for HIV.

Suzhou, a small city of eastern China, hosts about six million migrant workers from different parts of the country. Most of them live near the industrial areas without a spouse and develop new sexual relationships where they live.

Loneliness and isolation

For many male migrants, this means visiting sex workers or engaging in sex with other men, explains Ding Xun, a 37 year old volunteer of "Sharing the Sunshine", a group established by the Red Cross Society of China with the support of the Netherlands Red Cross.

"Factors like loneliness, isolation and peer pressure drive them to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, take drugs and have unprotected sex," adds Ding Xun. There are about 600 HIV cases in Suzhou and about 80 per cent of them are migrant workers.

Lee, a 30 years old HIV positive worker who is also a member of the Sharing the Sunshine group adds that some migrants become sex workers themselves in order to make ends meet. These so called "money boys" and their clients are particularly at the risk of HIV infection because they frequently change partners, are high mobile and often don't use condoms. "The Suzhou Red Cross is helping them by providing education on safe sex and promoting the use of condoms," explains Lee.

Confidentiality is key

Because of stigma and fear of discrimination, many migrant workers in Suzhou hesitate to take the free HIV tests that are available in hospitals. However, through the voluntary and confidential counselling and testing (VCCT) programme that is promoted by the Suzhou Red Cross, many migrants have found out about their HIV status.

The experience of Suzhou Red Cross also shows that stigma and discrimination are the main reasons why many HIV infected migrant workers are reluctant to go back to their own community; they prefer to live in a place where their HIV positive status will not be revealed. This is an area of great concern for the Red Cross Society of China and it needs immediate attention.

Benefits of early detection

According to Hao Rui, the team leader of Suzhou HIV project, voluntary and confidential counselling and testing among migrants has two immediate benefits: first, it can prevent the further spread of the virus and secondly, it can prolong the life of those who have already been infected with HIV. By starting to take medication, along with a healthy diet and other measures, people living with HIV can live healthy lives for many years.

Health and dignity

The Sharing the Sunshine programme also provides livelihood trainings and organizes family visits along with peer education and self care activities. Since 2005, the group helped many HIV positive migrant workers to live with hope and inspiration. For many poor and marginalized migrants, Sharing the Sunshine is the only hope for getting care and support to live healthily and with self-dignity.
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