Children with HIV live in fear of discovery

Regional studies showed mental problems are on rise among young sufferers, said Xiao Jinsong, associate professor of psychology and neurology at Wuhan University.

Some of them suffer depression when they grow older and learn more about their status and related social discrimination, he said.

Children with HIV/AIDS play games at a summer camp last week in Kunming, Yunnan province. Some 30 children aged 10 to 15 participated in the camp. Provided to China Daily

"It is easy for them to get twisted ideas of themselves, which might pose a challenge to their own health and social stability," he said.

Zhao agreed, adding that many teenagers decline to take medicine without proper mental intervention.

Worse, some who become sexually active hide their status from partners, "which might spread the virus," she added.

Since 2004 when China brought in child patient treatment, "we have constantly realized how important such supplementary procedures like mental support and the proper way to inform them of the disease are for effective and successful therapy," Zhao said.

But she conceded that such comprehensive services were not currently available due to restraints in funding and talent.

Li Bin, minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said on Tuesday

Peng's public service activities

Peng visits children with intellectual disability Peng visits children's hospital in Mexico Peng Liyuan visits children in Costa Rica

Peng, Gates make anti-smoking call Peng Liyuan and Bill Gates attend an anti-smoking campaign ahead of the 25th World No-Tobacco Day, in Beijing, May 29, 2012.

at a summer camp in Beijing for children affected by HIV/AIDS that more resources would be rallied to take better care of child sufferers.

First lady Peng Liyuan, who is also the image ambassador of the National Health and Family Planning Commission for HIV/AIDS control and prevention, and Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO, also attended the opening of the camp.

At the camp, 12-year-old Gao Jun, who was infected via mother-to-child transmission, was excited about the various activities for him to do.

At age 4, he starred in the Oscar-winning documentary The Blood of Yingzhou District, when he had just lost parents to AIDS and appeared quite introverted.

"I can hardly connect that poor little boy — who refused to listen, talk, or even just look at others — to the smiling teenage boy today," said Zhang Ying, director of the Fuyang AIDS Orphan Salvation Association, where Gao lives now.

According to Zhao Yan, more than 20 percent of China's HIV-positive children have lost parents to AIDS.

"They are in great need of mental support for healthy growth, both physically and mentally," she said, adding regional pilot projects have addressed that need issue.

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