Beginning this year, employees working in public entertainment venues in Central China's Henan Province will be required to undergo STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)/HIV/AIDS tests and provided with relevant information before taking a post. Those employees who do not take the STD/HIV/AIDS screening tests won't be allowed to take their posts, and the entertainment venues with such employees won't be allowed to open for business either.

This measure adopted by Henan Province for the purpose of AIDS prevention has sparked an argument. Some traditionalists hold that requiring mandatory STD/HIV/AIDS tests for employees in public entertainment venues, where most prostitution takes place, is as good as condoning, or even encouraging prostitution, which is illegal in China. Others argue that since prostitution is a reality we have to deal with, conducting STD/HIV/AIDS tests for high-risk groups isn't a bad idea as long as it can help prevent or reduce further spread of STD/HIV/AIDS among vulnerable groups and in the general population.

In my opinion, this measure adopted by Henan Province to curb the spread of STD/HIV/AIDS is indeed a pragmatic approach on the issue of STD/HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and it is a step in the right direction toward solving the problem, a good experiment that is worth a try.

In the first place, STD/HIV/AIDS tests can be a valuable tool in the fight against the spread of STD/HIV/AIDS. Currently, the presence and impact of the sex service industry in China is an undeniable reality. Every year the government launches a drive to crack down on the illegal sex service business. However, despite the crackdown, this business simply cannot be rooted out. In this context, instituting STD/HIV/AIDS screening tests for people working in public entertainment venues can effectively reduce the risk of infection by driving virus carriers and patients away from public entertainment venues.

In the second place, STD/HIV/AIDS screening tests can tell the candidate employees if they have been infected. Any unfortunate employee who is infected with the diseases should get medical treatment as soon as possible. This is not only in the interest of the patients, but is also cost-effective for our health care system, since the money used in prevention will be only a small fraction of that needed down the road if a full blown disease develops.

For the past years our government has waged an unremitting campaign against pornography (including the sex business). There is no doubt that we look forward to the day when prostitution will be completely rooted out. However, we must not be daydreamers who choose to shun reality. Apart from imposing a ban and crackdown on prostitution, the government can reduce the harm of illegal sex trade activities by requiring STD/HIV/AIDS tests in public entertainment venues where sex services are likely to be sold and bought. This pragmatic approach focusing on problem-solving is certainly a better strategy than a do-nothing approach.