Parents Jointly Protest AIDS Orphan A Long's School Entrance; AIDS Discrimination Is Hard to Eliminate

A month ago, Guangxi media reported the story of A Long, a AIDS orphan, who grew up on his own, according to the Voice of China's Central Broadcasting News. This 6-year-old child touched the hearts of netizens across the country. Now, in addition to survival issues, new problems are also facing Ah Long. We contacted Wei Xue, the on duty editor of China Voice, for more information:

Host: What problems are bothering Ah Long now?

Reporter: A Long is 6 years old and lives in Liuzhou, Guangxi. He was previously tested to be HIV positive. With the help of many enthusiastic people, A Long's living conditions have improved significantly. But now, A Long's enrollment problem has not been solved. After his father's death, the news that Ah Long was carrying HIV spread in the village. In September this year, Ah Long's grandmother took Ah Long to the first grade school, and his parents wrote a joint protest letter to the school. These opposing voices ultimately blocked Ah Long from the school gate, and where Ah Long should study has become a topic for local authorities. Placing Ah Long in regular schools requires considering the emotions of other parents and children, but currently there are no specialized educational institutions in Guangxi that recruit special children, and the issue of Ah Long's enrollment has also been put on hold. Host: What are the reactions from various sectors regarding the difficulties Ah Long is facing?

Reporter: The news that Ah Long cannot go to school has once again attracted the attention of netizens. On Sina Weibo, thousands of netizens have forwarded this news, and about thousands of netizens have participated in discussions on Ah Long's topic on major portal websites. The dilemma of Ah Long has prompted many netizens to rethink. Besides material donations, how should we help this child? Most netizens sympathize with A Long, and many of them say frankly that if they really let their children and HIV carriers become classmates, they can't resist the psychological pressure. Weng Yuqiu, a doctor from Liuzhou Disease Control Center, also confessed to reporters that all the work pressure in AIDS relief work now comes from discrimination. The views of netizens Qianshu Yiye also represent the voices of many netizens. He said that there may be many Ah Long in this world. Compared to the individual combat of netizens, a sound rescue system is more important to them. However, for each of us, overcoming fear without isolation or discrimination, Ah Long can truly feel warmth.