Thailand Is Winning The Fight Against HIV & AIDS
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HIV & AIDS In Thailand
AIDS first appeared in Thailand in 1984, and since then there has been a stigma attached to Thailand regarding the AIDS virus. In the 1980s, the AIDS epidemic affected Thailand dramatically, likely due in part to the country's booming sex trade. Sex trade workers in the 1980s were not educated about the risks of unprotected sex, therefore the use of condoms was rare. During the 1990s, the Thai government introduced policies to educate the public, including the men and women working as prostitutes. Their efforts have achieved a tremendous success in reducing the number of new cases of HIV infection, and educating the public about the risks of unprotected sex.
Unfortunately a success in reducing the number of people infected with HIV seems to be less newsworthy than a story about a growing epidemic, and perhaps this is why there is still a stigma about AIDS in Thailand. Many people in western countries still view Thailand in the same light as Africa when it comes to HIV & AIDS, and this is an unfortunate attitude that is a result in a lack of education, and not at all factual. The prevalence rate in Thai adults has been reduced over the past decade from over 2% to 1.3%, with a significant decline in new cases of infection.
These days the country's sex trade workers are well educated, and almost all of them practice safe sex using condoms. New drugs are also available to treat AIDS patients, and the treatment can greatly extend the life expectancy of those who are infected. The government remains committed to tackling the issue of HIV & AIDS, and they have a strategic plan for combating the virus in the future.
Reports of an AIDS vaccine surfaced in 2009, claiming that a breakthrough has been reached in a study involving some 16,000 volunteers in Thailand. Scientists believe that they may be close to finding a vaccine to prevent the spread of the AIDS virus, however the experimental vaccine has so far only worked on some of the volunteers, with others seemingly not seeing any benefit.
AIDS vaccine as reported in The New York Times >
News In Thailand
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As amazing as it sounds, it seems that a rag tag group of outlaw taxi drivers are able to force the hand of the Airport Authority, The local government and law enforcement and just about anyone who apposes them. These type of blockades are still very - Unexplained Deaths In Chiang Mai, Thailand At The Downtown Inn
British tourists Eileen and George Everitt of the United Kingdom are among the 7 people that died in this Downtown Chiang Mai hotel in Thailand. All 7 of the victims died from heart failure, and while it is suspected that they were introduced to toxi - Mass Grave Of 169 Bodies Found In Thailand, Suspected To Be "Red-Shirt" Anti Government Protesters
The Nation, English language newspaper in Thailand, reported today that a mass grave was found on the grounds of two temples located in Rayong province, just outside Bangkok. The Thai authorities discovered 72 bodies at the first temple and another 9
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I have had plenty of problems with ads being disabled, if it is their automated system, you can email them and have them manually reviewed.
this, speaking of someone as positive, is very good news.,
stephaniedas Level 6 Commenter 7 months ago
Kudos to Thailand for doing such great work combating this disease. Thailand has a big stigma attached to it regarding sex tourism and HIV, it is encouraging to know that infection rates are dropping.
By the way, how did you get cleared for ads on this hub? I have had trouble writing hubs about such sensitive topics. I wrote one about yeast infections, and had to use ridiculous euphemisms for sex and genitalia, like "The Netherlands", so that my adsense wasn't disabled.