Thailand Records 1.1 Million Total Hiv/Aids Cases

[george]

Thailand records 1.1 million total HIV/AIDS cases: Public Health Ministry

NONTHABURI, March 29 – Thailand’s Public Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that the cumulative number of people living with HIV has reached 1.1 million while about 10,000 others became newly infected each year with the deadly virus.

Speaking during the 13th national seminar on the HIV/AIDS situation in Thailand, Dr Chawetsan Namwat, chief of the ministry’s AIDS Epidemiology Group, said that some 1,100,000 HIV/AIDS infections have been recorded since the HIV epidemic emerged in 1984. About 500,000-600,000 of the affected are still living while about 600,000 others have died during over two decades.

Currently, the number of new HIV/AIDS cases were reported at about10,000 persons each year, a lower figure than during the early years, due to medical advances and health care development. However, Dr Chawetsan said that the new infection rate remained high. The main cause of transmitting the infection -- some 84 per cent -- was sexual intercourse, with the increasing infection ratio among male homosexual groups.

Meanwhile, the HIV/AIDS contraction among injecting drug users fell to 26 per cent from 40 per cent in the past owing to changing methods of drug use. Mother-to-child transmission accounted for only three per cent as HIV-positive mothers can now access antiviral drugs.

Epidemiologist Dr Chawetsan urged that using condoms was needed and also called for agencies concerned to encourage and support campaigns promoting condom use to prevent the disease among the high-risk group, particularly students in their early teenaged years, when they first become interested in exploring sexuality.

In addition, AIDS Access Foundation director Nimit Tienudom said that in an effort to prevent the epidemics, the government must allocate sufficient budget to provide free condoms as well as to have a clear policy on access to condoms. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-03-29

[dunkin2012]

on CNN ........................ Bill Gates

He said in 5 years time we can cure it.(discover)

http://www.aidsmeds....667_18717.shtml

" they conclude, "we have a real chance of finding a permanent cure for AIDS. Soon."

billGates foundations

Edited March 29, 2011 by dunkin2012

[surangw]

and unrecorded cases? who knows

[geriatrickid]

and unrecorded cases? who knows

Bingo

[ETatBKK]

as usual, government officials start an open ended message to the public, without a tangible suggestion, except this !

In addition, AIDS Access Foundation director Nimit Tienudom said that in an effort to prevent the epidemics, the government must allocate sufficient budget to provide free condoms as well as to have a clear policy on access to condoms

what, guess this would help to prevent or reduce the chance of infecting HIV ? YES, technically, but NO it kills by the relaxed attitude of casual sex. WORST, sex education in Thailand is equal to ZERO.

it is just like someone very busy drying the water from a broken water pipe, but not turning off the tap just arms away.

[Phuket Stan]

as usual, government officials start an open ended message to the public, without a tangible suggestion, except this !

In addition, AIDS Access Foundation director Nimit Tienudom said that in an effort to prevent the epidemics, the government must allocate sufficient budget to provide free condoms as well as to have a clear policy on access to condoms

what, guess this would help to prevent or reduce the chance of infecting HIV ? YES, technically, but NO it kills by the relaxed attitude of casual sex. WORST, sex education in Thailand is equal to ZERO.

it is just like someone very busy drying the water from a broken water pipe, but not turning off the tap just arms away.

Thailand has done a great job re Aids....have u never heard of Cabbages and Condoms.....Google is your friend...Aids is on the rise in most countries...the younger generaton everywhere are prepared to take more risks than in the past 20-30 years

[nikster]

Meanwhile, the HIV/AIDS contraction among injecting drug users fell to 26 per cent from 40 per cent in the past owing to changing methods of drug use.

...Yabaa pills prevent HIV... news at 11.

Edited March 29, 2011 by nikster

[Beetlejuice]

After an Aids epidemic people then become aware and begin taking precautions, condoms, safe sex and so on.

Then after a few years when because of safe sex practises, the aids figures begin to drop, so people start becoming complacent, the HIV virus reappears on the scene and the whole cycle starts again.

Unfortuately people never learn until it`s too late.

[BusyBee123]

After an Aids epidemic people then become aware and begin taking precautions, condoms, safe sex and so on.

Then after a few years when because of safe sex practises, the aids figures begin to drop, so people start becoming complacent, the HIV virus reappears on the scene and the whole cycle starts again.

Unfortuately people never learn until it`s too late.

countires get bombed and keep themselves to themselves then western countries supply weapons and they get giddy again, then western countries bomb the people they supply boms to ahhhhhh no one ever learns

[Bagwan]

How many are walking around unknowingly infected until they contract one of the opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis or diabetes? Of those who have contracted the disease how many can afford treatment? How many doctors know enough to be able to effectively treat their patients?

We may never know.

[pointoffew]

Given that there are 500,000-600,000 HIV infected people still alive, 10,000 new infections per year is an unlikely low number.

[asiawatcher]

Abstinence? Or do we continue to believe Thailand has no sex industry, gays and straight heterosexuals continue with unprotected sex... does this all not come down to 'education' as already stated, argued time and time again? But as long as the taboo subject is not undertaken at 'school' or in the villages, then what can Thai society expect? Can't help but think it is another way for Mother Nature to cull ... Ignorance is bliss until it's too late!

[BlueSmurf]

Seem to remember recently that condom vending machines were taken out of colleges/schools in Bangkok because some parents said it encouraged their children to have sex!

[BigJohnson]

I just had to post! It is so refreshing to see so many well informed posts on this subject, I applaud you all!

Unfortunately I tend to find resistance and ignorance when discussing the issues of AIDS/HIV. I have had personal and medical experience with people who have been infected and have seen some die an inhumane death; it is especially tragic when you see a child or baby that is suffering. There are many ways to contract AIDS/HIV that people are not aware of and not all of them are sexual; but of course unprotected sex is the number one culprit and even at that a condom is not 100 percent fail safe.

It is important that people who are aware of the risks pass on the message and not just rely on the government or schools to do the job (I should say the lack of schools to educate). It is sad that smoking will outrage people more than someone having unprotected sex and spreading the disease.

"YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!"

[exbelg]

Thailand: new hub for AIDS

[Chris Lawrence]

Waiting for a cure can be a while?

In the meantime some of the best preventive methods used have been access to condoms, needle exchanges and generally good staff with a non-judgmental attitude to promote these programs; particularly in the various tribes and sub-groups where risky behaviour may be happening.

Sometimes it is a hard call on this type of promotion as some people feel it is an attack of their own morale decency.

The thing with these types of programs is that they will save the community a lot of money thru the decrease in transmission. The drugs used to combat this disease are very expensive.

Good luck to the Thai Health authorities in this area.