China has approved a law specifically targeting AIDS prevention and outlawing discrimination against victims of infectious diseases.

UPI

BEIJING, Aug. 29 () – For the first time China has approved a law specifically targeting AIDS prevention and outlawing discrimination against victims of infectious diseases.

The BBC reported Sunday the law passed by China’s Parliament guarantees funding from the federal government to local authorities dealing with a fast-spreading disease.

The law strengthens control and monitoring of infectious diseases, including SARS and bird flu. The law also strengthens AIDS prevention programs. It’s estimated that 840,000 people in China have HIV or AIDS.

“The law stipulates that governments of various levels should strengthen prevention and control of AIDS and take measures to prevent the spread of the disease,” reported Xinhua, China’s main government-run news agency.