From South China Morning Post, via China AIDS Survey:
The 17th National Congress gives Chinese leaders a unique opportunity to find ways to make financial services more accessible to the rural poor. That was the goal of one set of proposals already unveiled this year. Such a push is to be applauded, since limited rural access to financial services is a major barrier preventing the weakest from finding opportunities to take part in the mainland’s impressive development.
This harmonious vision of inclusiveness cannot be realised, however, as long as access to these services remains limited for the most vulnerable – including people living with HIV, their families and affected communities. Millions of people affected by HIV are restricted by the loss of security, livelihood options and human development potential. To compensate, Beijing should explore explicit provisions for HIV/Aids in the current thrust to expand rural financial services. [Full Text]
Alessandra Tisot is the deputy country director of the UN Development Programme in China.
