This second national plan differs from the first in that management and prevention of other sexually transmitted diseases is included, and broader input is sought from sectors other than the health sector. The new plan serves as the national guide for developing, implementing and evaluating sector and organisational workplans as well as input from international organisations, including UN agencies, bilaterals and NGOs. Its time frame is from 1995 to 2000, thus coinciding with China's Eighth Five Year Plan period. The priority objective set by the plan is to keep HIV infections at low levels throughout the country, thereby avoiding disturbances to the government's open door policy and averting challenges to the country's drive for modernisation and construction. To achieve this the first strategy is to prevent sexually transmitted and IDU infections by promoting communication and education activities and encouraging the adoption of protective behaviour.
Main activities concentrate on educating the general public through mass media.
Special emphasis is placed on the education of women and young people. Priority interventions are also aimed at women and men engaging in frequent and unprotected sex with multiple partners, long distance truck drivers and intravenous drug users. Migrant labour forces within China and Chinese overseas workers are particularly vulnerable populations and need intense and high priority educational interventions. The second strategy proposed to decrease future HIV infection consists of offering patients with sexually transmitted diseases quick, fitting and affordable care at the primary health care level throughout China. Further strategies embraced by the national plan are directed at minimising transfusion related and other iatrogenic infections.