South African activist Edwin Cameron told journalists Thursday people were dying in China because of the stigma of HIV.
Cameronsaid the fear of being discovered as infected was discouraging peoplefrom getting tested and receiving treatment.
"It continues to seemappalling to me that people should be dying of a medically manageableand entirely treatable condition," he said.
Cameron was in China at the invitation of the Chinese government and the United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS.
Arecent United Nations supported survey revealed half of Chinese polledwould be unwilling to have a meal with an HIV-infected person. Nearlya third said HIV positive children should not be allowed in publicschools.
Cameron, who is himself infected with HIV, said heencouraged AIDS activists in China to be more outspoken to raiseawareness, especially those living with HIV.
"I think that theinvolvement of people with AIDS in North America 20 years agochanged that whole continent's understanding of AIDS," he said. "Thatshift has yet to occur in China. And, I think the shift can only occurwith the involvement of people with AIDS and HIV who are speaking forthemselves"
Cameron is a Supreme Court Justice in South Africaand was careful to say he was not encouraging protests against thegovernment.
Activists who Chinese authorities consider too outspoken are threatened, beaten, and sometimes imprisoned.
Earlierthis year a well-known Chinese dissident and AIDS activist, Hu Jia, wassentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail on vague charges of"subversion."
The Chinese government has in recent years beenraising awareness and education about AIDS after years of denying thecountry had a problem.
Cameron applauded the Chinese governmentfor passing laws against discrimination and giving free antiviral drugtreatment to AIDS patients. But, he said the free medical care neededto be expanded to cover infections brought on by HIV.
"They arethe AIDS-defining infections," said Cameron. "And, the antibiotics thatyou need are very expensive but you've got to pay for them yourself inChina. So, the situation is dire and money is definitely a problem"
There are an estimated 700,000 people infected with HIV in China but most of them are not aware of it.
Expertssay that number may be low and that up to 50 million Chinese are atrisk of contracting the disease because they engage in high-riskbehavior such as drug use and prostitution.