Thailands Mr Condom

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Seator Mechai for those of you who don't know lives in Pattaya and owns the Cabbages and Condoms restaurant

The World Today - Thailand's 'Mr Condom' makes comeback

The World Today - Wednesday, 7 September , 2005 12:46:00

Reporter: Peter Lloyd

ELEANOR HALL: The outspoken architect of Thailand's successful AIDS prevention campaign in the 1980s is back. And for good reason - there's evidence that the HIV virus has made a big comeback in the Thai Kingdom.

Senator Mechai Viravaidya earned the nicknamed "Mr Condom" for his efforts to encourage protected sex. But a new health study shows Thais are no longer heeding the warnings.

The Senator has been telling our South East Asia Correspondent Peter Lloyd that the Thai Government's inaction has led to a disturbing increase in HIV infections.

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: The report that has been submitted to the Ministry of Public Health a month ago and again today, showed a huge increase in infections of sexually transmitted diseases amongst youth.

And at the same time, it had continuing increase in those who use intravenous drugs, and about men who have sex with men. So it's not just one - it's the whole across the board, and therefore, Thailand has now been knocked to floor.

We now have an increasing rate of HIV infections amongst the general public and so the good work that has been done has now been somewhat negated.

PETER LLOYD: What was your reaction when you first saw those figures?

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: I felt like losing my testicles. It was a great shock and I think it's like people losing their independence or being raped.

I never expected that this would happen, but it's a result of inaction by the Government, absolutely no interest by the Prime Minister except the promise at the World AIDS Conference and all the promises made have not been kept.

So we find today while the Budget has been steady - much of it over 85 per cent has been used for treatment and care, which is good for the people - but the amount of money for public education prevention is so little, that it's just ridiculous.

Prevention is the only cure. The more you do in prevention, the less infections will occur and the less money you will spend on care and fewer lives will be lost. Very simple.

PETER LLOYD: What happened to prevention? I mean, Thailand was famed for its condom campaign, which you led in the 80's?

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: What happens in Thailand, often it's what is the flavour of the month. The Government's spending it's time on economic issues, economic issues, economic issues and the social issues take a backseat.

HIV/AIDS, it's just not deemed important. The Prime Minister has been Chairman of the National AIDS Committee for five years and has never attended once. So, it's on the backburner and so when it's on the backburner by the leader who's very strong, very pushy, then the civil servants just kow-tow and let it happen.

PETER LLOYD: So does this mean for you a return to the old campaign of literally hitting the streets with a condom message all over again?

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: I'm spending all my senatorial salary on buying condoms and giving it out and asking people to wake up and save the next generation.

I'm going to be a real nuisance, to make noises to let the public understand and keep on pushing, and asking every Thai citizen to participate and help.

AIDS is not just a government issue, not just a health issue, it's an issue for everybody in Thailand.

PETER LLOYD: This is very much a Thai story, but to what extent is there an international message here? I mean, Thailand has tens of thousands of people who come here as sex tourists every year?

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: Well, the problem isn't with sex tourism. Right now, it's very much home bred, it's local. It's like Australian cricket - it was imported one time, but it's now very local.

ELEANOR HALL: Senator Mechai Viravaidya speaking to Correspondent Peter Lloyd in Bangkok.