"WHO Collaborating Centre for Comprehensive Management of HIV Treatment and Care" in Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University (referred to as WHOCC-BDH hereinafter) was set up in Beijing on Jan.30th, 2009 and launched by the then WHO Director General Margaret Chan. In Jan.2021, WHOCC-BDH will obtain its fifth certification, and continually contribute to China and the whole Asia-Pacific region, under the leadership of WHO West-Pacific Organization.
HOCC-BDH has carried out diverse activities by leveraging the abundant resources of Beijing Ditan Hospital and is one of the representative institutions that demonstrate sound and effective technical collaboration between China and WHO. As part of the WHO global health cooperation network, it is committed to enhancing exchange and cooperation in HIV/Aids prevention and control across countries/regions, providing support to research, and fostering the cultivation of the talent in order to ensure robust and continued development in the global HIV undertakings. It serves as a great platform to foster China’s HIV management and expertise, and a strong driver to integrate China’s effort with the rest of the world in controlling the epidemic. Going forward, WHOCC-BDH, building on its past achievements, will continue to assist WHO in promoting and implementing WHO guidelines for the treatment of AIDS and other comorbidities, explore sustainable service models against the backdrop of universal health coverage and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and share relevant experience with other countries."
The picture shows the then World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan (third from right) and Jet Li (second from right) inaugurating the Collaborating Center
Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University(“the Hospital”) is a class A tertiary hospital that focuses on the prevention, care, research and teaching of infectious diseases and the main body of National Center for Infectious Diseases. In 2012, it merged with the Beijing Chaobaihe Orthopedics Hospital with the latter turning to a branch of the Hospital in Shunyi District.
The hospital adheres to the path of "specialty characteristics and comprehensive development", and has formed an infectious disease discipline represented by a liver disease center, an infectious disease diagnosis and treatment center, an integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment center, and a critically ill treatment center. Projects of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the key specialty of traditional Chinese medicine for liver disease and the key discipline of traditional Chinese medicine for infectious diseases.
The Home of Red Ribbon was previously known as the Home of Red Ribbon of Beijing Ditan Hospital, which was established in 1999. On January 5, 2005, the Home of Red Ribbon was registered with Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau as the first civil society organization in China specializing in comprehensive HIV/AIDS care. It has six independent branches focusing on medical support, self-help of infected people, volunteer service, social assistance, online publicity and legal aid. Its purpose is to provide comprehensive support and services for people living with HIV by pooling strength from all social strata, and to carry out a variety of HIV prevention and control measures and health awareness campaigns for enhanced public understanding of and synergized support for HIV.
Over 20 years on, the Home of Red Ribbon has successfully provided a full range of HIV services and consequently won wide accolades in society and special attention from the international community. In recent years, the model of cooperation between the Home of Red Ribbon and designated medical institutions has set up an exemplary case for the country, and a network of civil society organizations working around the Home of Red Ribbon at the central position. With support of the Home of Red Ribbon, civil society organizations for HIV prevention and control sprung up and grew rapidly throughout the rest of China.