AIDS pose impending public health and social problems, but kids with HIV infections are suffering more.

Unfortunately, their protection is usually neglected, an expert said at the 22nd Congress on Law of World, which opened here Monday.

"It is the government's role to advocate the protection of AIDS victims' kids," said Long Yifei, a professor with Beijing-based People's University.

"Orphaned or frightened by HIV/AIDS-infected parents, these kids usually suffer from both psychological and educational hardships," Long said, "In this respect, the government should show up as protectors."

"Laws and regulations should be promulgated to take care of the life, medicare and study of these children," Long said.

Figures from the China Youth Concern Committee (CYCC) show that the current number of children whose parents have died from AIDS is close to 80,000 in China, and the number is predicted to soar to 200,000 by 2010.

"Bias, poverty and depression are the biggest problems haunting these children during their lifetime," Li Guoqiang, an official with CYCC said on a previous occasion.

The government should set up special institutions and funds to protect these kids and encourage other social organizations to be involved in the aid programs, Long said.

Source: Xinhua