TAIPEI—Throughout China, Daycare centers in many provinces have banned children tested positive for Hepatitis-B (HVB). Over 100 mothers pleaded for help in a petition to Yandong Liu, a cabinet member within China’s state council who represents their department of education.
There are at least 120 million carriers of HVB in China, comprising roughly one-tenth of the country’s population. Even though transmission of the disease most commonly takes place during pregnancy from mother-to-child, many provincial governments have still banned infected children from daycare centers, to prevent further spreading by casual contact.
Jun Lu, head of a popular website where HVB carriers can collaborate and exchange information, showed some samples of daycare policies from the Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong Provinces. The policies clearly stipulate that every child must undergo a compete physical examination including HVB screening prior to admission. Children tested HVB positive are subsequently prohibited from enrollment.
Since this past summer, Hau Li, a Shandong resident, has been looking for daycare for her 3-year-old daughter. She has contacted many local nurseries and so far, hasn’t had any luck. She is angered and feels frustrated with the rejection that comes even after she provides medical research showing the unlikelihood of her daughter infecting other children.
The mothers wrote: “Our children are no different from others except that they carry this virus. We understand the school’s concern. However, children receive a free HVB vaccine at school, so the ban of HVB-positive children from school is outdated!”
“Our children have already been unfortunate enough to have this infection, yet they are discriminated against and prevented from receiving a normal pre-school education. No mother would want her child to be cast out by society. We sincerely hope that a national policy can be issued to withdraw the ban against HBV+ children in our daycare facilities.”
