by Andy Z.
Member since:
January 11, 2007

AIDS Activist Unable to Accept Award in Person

February 15, 2007 08:16 PM EST
views: 50 | comments: 16

Feb. 15, 2007

 “Dear Dr. Gao, I am a 37-year-old woman lives in Linding county, central China.  I had my blood transfusion in June, 1995 when I undergo my surgery at the Women’s Hospital.  In 2004, I was seriously ill and confirmed AIDS infection at the People’s hospital in Shanqiu City.  Three of us all infected with AIDS in our family.  My daughter died one day after we received her results.” 

Over the years, Dr. Gao Yaojie had worked with many families who infected with AIDS.  This outspoken eighty-year-old female doctor pushed Chinese government to take action for AIDS prevention and forced the local government to admit that hundreds of thousands of people were infected with AIDS.  Many people called Dr. Gao as the “number one doctor for AIDS prevention.” 

Gao was planning to travel to the U.S. in March, 2007 to receive a leadership award from Vital Voices, an organization promoting female leadership supported by Senator Hillary Clinton.  Since February, she was imprisoned at home, surrounded by secret police, and phone disconnected. 

On February 14, Dr. Gao decided to let her sister to receive the award on her behalf to end the standoff between her and the local authorities.  “I have no other choice,” Gao said, “my family’s safety is more important and right now they are threatened.”  On February 15, her phone service resumed.  When reporters tried to reach local officials in Zhengzhou City (central China), they declined to comment on the case.  There are still four policemen stood outside her apartment and watching her activities.  

“The reason they disallow me to come to Washington is they don’t want me to disclose the local AIDS epidemic.” Gao told a reporter.  Ironically, the local newspaper Zhengzhou Daily reported “local government officials thanked Dr. Gao for her years of service in public health and AIDS prevention.” Dr. Gao’s house arrest has attracted attention from the State Department and Vital Voices.   

Related Background Article:

AIDS Activist Imprisoned at Home:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976903468 
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Comments: 16

Robin"Buffy's Stunt Double" D. Feb 15, 2007, 8:26pm EST
What a brave woman! I hope they let her out soon
Charles D. Feb 15, 2007, 8:48pm EST
Yes I agree with Robin. She deserves to be allowed to help her people. I hope they let her continue her work.
Audrey F. Feb 15, 2007, 8:52pm EST
I am sorry that she was unable to get permission to go accept the award in person.
This is such an unfair situation. Why is Amnesty International not involved. I believe they help in this sort of situation. You might want to contact them, Andy. I'm sure you can find them through google.com
Richard W. Feb 15, 2007, 9:06pm EST
Hi Andy, is this a new article, or one that got published again? I thought I had read in a few days ago. Important issue.
Connie C. Feb 15, 2007, 10:48pm EST
She should be allowed to help them.
Andy Z. Feb 16, 2007, 12:47pm EST
I think that those police should be organized to help prevent the spread of the disease instead of whitewashing it.

p.s. I like your name!
John Harris Beck Feb 17, 2007, 9:09am EST
That the local authorities are now thanking her means that the attention has done some good. Thanks, Andy.
tomi r. Feb 18, 2007, 2:57pm EST
I was hoping she would get to accept the award in person. I agree with John, I hope the attention will help her cause.
Barbary Chaapel Feb 21, 2007, 10:11pm EST
Thanks for calling our attetnion to this, Andy.
Andy Z. Feb 22, 2007, 4:25pm EST
I want to personally thank you for your comments on my article about the AIDS Activist Dr. Gao. It is my great pleasure to let you know that our gather community had made a difference in Chinese government and now they agreed to let Dr. Gao to come to Washington DC to receive her award in person. It is your comments and efforts made a great difference in our world. Thank you!
Connie C. Feb 22, 2007, 5:02pm EST
I am so glad that they are comming to their senses. Thanks for the personal email about my comment.
Wendy F. Feb 24, 2007, 1:26am EST
Wow - Andy that is neat that is neat - our gather community had made a difference in Chinese government - do you know how many people were in involved from Gather ?
Miranda Kay L. Mar 4, 2007, 12:28am EST
Thank you for the update Andy! I am so glad Dr. Gao has been freed.
marcus brooks Mar 7, 2007, 7:50pm EST
During the Chernoboyl disaster (1986), the Soviet Union kept activists under wraps to downplay their casualty figures. It has been said, (not counting immediate deaths from nuclear fallout) that generations living around Ground Zero would suffer high-risk cancer from radiation exposure. Imagine that! People are still dying now of all types of cancer heightened 10x10, because of a 21 year-old accident!
Laurie H. Mar 15, 2007, 11:14am EDT
I'm glad to hear that Dr. Gao was freed and allowed to accept an award befitting her efforts. She is an inspiration to her profession and humanity and should be honored! How unfortuante that countries sometimes feel they need to hide these public health and safety issues. If only the whole world were allowed to work together harmoniously, not only in science and medicine, I personally can imagine how quickly problems could be solved and solutions could be discovered.
Jennifer A. Apr 20, 2007, 12:19pm EDT
This is most unfortunate. My heart and prayers go out to Dr. Gao.

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