The award acknowledges special contributions to the PLHIV community in China by governmental officials, medical practitioners and international NGOs. APCASO received this recognition as a result of work done in China through its five-year Prevention and Treatment Advocacy Project (PTAP), particularly in the following three areas: 

1. Legal advocacy that has made a significant contribution to the recent policy change at Chinese Insurance industry that gives PLHIVs equal access to personal insurance;
2. Media advocacy that demonstrates an innovative and effective approach to reducing stigma and discrimination through a radio programme; and
3. Positive Prevention that addresses the prevention needs of PLHIVs.

Click here for more details on the award can be found at ITPC-China's website.

The Award Ceremony was jointly organised by ITPC-China and UNAIDS China, and was held in Shanghai on 23 November 2009. Mr Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Zaidi, the new ITPC International Coordinator, and Mr Zhang Fujie, Director of Treatment and Care Department, China's Ministry of Health, attended the ceremony and handed the awards to the winner. Jenny Xia, PTAP regional project manager, accepted the award on behalf of APCASO.

The event was well attended by media, PLHIVs, officials from MOH, UNAIDS and ITPC and representatives from national and international NGOs.

In addition, China's Ministry of Health organised the 5th Conference of International Cooperation Programmes on HIV/AIDS in China, in Shanghai, 23-25 November where Jenny Xia made a presentation on PTAP initiatives in the region.