Students display a panel of red ribbons calling for HIV/AIDS prevention at Shahe No 1 Middle School in Hebei province on Sunday. [CHEN LEI/XINHUA]

On a rainy Sunday, 30-year-old engineer Xiao Qiang began a lecture in a university hall packed with more than 300 students:

"I am a gay man, and I'm HIV positive."

Infected during his college years around 2005, Xiao is also a volunteer for a local anti-AIDS society. He decided to stand up to AIDS and empower the young with the knowledge necessary to guard themselves against it.

Xiao Qiang is a pseudonym that is being used in this article to protect his privacy.

Since he started speaking out in 2008, Xiao has given more than 20 lectures on safe sex and HIV prevention, mostly at universities.

On this occasion, he was speaking at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Medicine as part of an HIV/AIDS-themed event hosted by the Chinese Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control.

Recalling his own past, he said knowledge and awareness can prevent HIV, but these are things young students lack.

"Back in 2005 when I contracted HIV from my then-boyfriend, I thought AIDS was far away from me and only hit drug users and sex workers," Xiao said.

Due to his low awareness, he stop using protection and became infected. "It could have been prevented with just condom use. My experience shouldn't be repeated," he said.

On a mission to educate others, he said he braved awkward inquires from students - like why you gay men usually have multiple sex partners and greater exposure. He would reply by informing students about HIV risks and safe sex.

He always brought a banana and a condom to demonstrate proper condom use for both heterosexual and gay sex. "I even encourage them to carry a condom in their wallets just in case," he said.

Xiao blamed a longtime lack of sex education among the students for the discomfort. "That makes sex so mysterious and morally-related," he said.

According to Wang Xinlun, executive deputy secretary-general of the association, students should have access to proper sex education and be aware of useful tips that help with disease prevention.

The association has held public health lectures on safe sex and HIV/AIDS prevention on university campuses nationwide.

"We've been to 27 universities this year and plan to go to more next year," she said.

Wu Zunyou, head of the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, said the annual increase of new reported HIV/AIDS cases among individuals aged 15 to 24 has been about 49 percent on average since 2011, compared to an average of 25 percent between 2005 to 2010.

China's top health and education authorities, in response, issued a notice in August to identify and manage cases on campus. The notice further promotes sex education, consultation and testing.

Contact the writers at guanxm@chinadaily.com.cn