健康英语新闻:South China villagers turn to music to prevent spread of AIDS

"We have been making progress with our anti-AIDS campaign. Nearly all of our villagers know how AIDS is transmitted and how to prevent it," he said.

There are more than 160 AIDS prevention groups in the city of Hechi, which administers Bama County.

Lu Meirong, 33, joined a local women's anti-AIDS group in June.

"I used to flush at the simple mention of sexual topics," she said. However, she says that she is now comfortable reminding her husband and other relatives to stay away from sex workers and to use condoms during intercourse.

She has also told other women in the village to keep an eye on their family members as well. "I tell them to remind their migrant relatives to be tested for HIV after returning home," she said.

Wei Kaizhong, head of the health bureau of the city of Hechi, believes that the mode of peer education on HIV/AIDS prevention is necessary among villagers.

"In this way, we can weave a network at the grassroots level," he said.

More than 370,000 Chinese adults and children were estimated to be living with HIV as of the end of 2010, according to the China HIV/AIDS Information Network.

Nearly two-thirds of China's AIDS carriers are believed to be living in rural areas. Rural residents have a significantly higher risk of contracting the disease than urban residents, according to Ge.

"Rural areas are the weakest links in China's AIDS prevention efforts. Campaigns conducted by local residents are the most economical and effective way to stop the spread of AIDS," Ge said.