Mei Yang sent us this report about the efforts of L’Oreal China and Hairdressers of the World Against AIDS.

Since the September launch of “Hairdressers of the World Against Aids” in China, L’Oreal, in cooperation with local government authorities, has been actively engaged in fighting the disease. Over the past two months, approximately 2,000 Chinese hairdressers have attended HIV/AIDS prevention training seminars organized by L’Oreal Professional. Sessions are conducted in the brand’s six technical training centers throughout the country. The target is to train 80,000 hairdressers by the end of 2007 and, through them, to reach 200,000 consumers.

In China, the central government has invested heavily in the fight against AIDS. The low prevalence of the disease in the country today shows the first fruits of their efforts–as of October 31, 2006, the cumulative number of reported HIV infections amounted to only 183,733 cases for the year. The 2005 unofficial estimation of total HIV cases in the country was under 650,000. There remains, however, a large at-risk, vulnerable population, so training and prevention continue to be one of the government’s top priorities. L’Oreal’s hairdresser education program has been welcomed and encouraged by local authorities, and both parties are exploring possibilities for further collaboration in this arena.

On December 1st the China State Council organized an Anti-AIDS benefit to mark the 19th annual World AIDS Day. Officials from the Ministry of Health, the China Women’s Federation, the China Disease Control Center and other related authorities attended along with celebrities and representatives from international organization such as UNAIDS and others. The theme of the benefit, for which L’Oreal donated funds and sponsored products, was “Caring for AIDS Orphans.”

Tags :

• AIDS 
• Asia-Pacific 
• HIV