Beijing decides to let renowned doctor who blew the whistle on AIDS outbreak to go to the United States to pick up an award she received from an NGO. Until now she had been under house arrest.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Chinese authorities will allow Dr Gao Yaojie, a prominent HIV/AIDS activist, to visit the US to receive an award from a human rights group. They had previously refused her permission to travel and had instead placed her under house arrest a fortnight ago.

Gao, 80, is known in China and around the world for blowing the whistle on commercial blood operations in Henan province, often run by officials, which, as a result of unhygienic conditions, spread HIV among poor farmers who sold their plasma.

Despite her revelations local government officials were not censored or charged for their actions.

Thanks to international pressure though, she will travel next month to receive an award given by Vital Voice Global Partnership, an NGO whose honorary chairperson is Hillary Clinton.

Vital Voices chairwoman Melanne Verveer welcomed the Chinese government's apparent change of heart.

“Dr Gao expressed her joy and desire to accept the award in person, and we are pleased it now appears her wish will be realised," she said.

• china
• henna
• gao
• yaojie
• vital
• voice
• melanne
• verveer
• aids
• outbreak
• blood
• scandal