Thailand is successful in the fight against HIV and AIDS
Thailand has achieved success in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including through successful treatment of infected mothers and through the development of low-cost AIDS drugs. Delegations from developing countries are now visiting for training.
Known for its green hills and exotic communities, Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand attracts not only tourists but also doctors from various developing countries. At Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital, they learn how Thai doctors have dealt with the spread of the HIV virus among babies.
As early as 1997, this hospital was selected as a center of research into the transmission of HIV from mother to child. “It was a logical choice to start here,” says Dr. Rawiwan Hansudewechakul, “because we were in the middle of an area that was already heavily affected in the early stages of HIV. There were funerals every day.”
Cheap AIDS inhibitors
From 2000, doctors also started coming from abroad. They came not only for the research in Chiang Rai, but also for other elements of Thai policy: a campaign for XNUMX% condom use and the development of cheap AIDS drugs.
Surasak Thanisawanyangkoon, head of international cooperation at the Ministry of Health, said cooperation is a priority for his government. “Treatment and care for mothers and children is a core issue. But Thai doctors are also sent to other countries to help with a good monitoring system.”
One of the key figures is Dr. Krisana Kraisintu, who led the research into a cheap antiretroviral (ARV) drug to replace the expensive drug cocktail. She has been working in Africa since 2002 to help produce and distribute AIDS drugs locally.
In the past 25 years, 1,1 million Thai people have become infected with the HIV virus and more than a quarter of them have died of AIDS. But while there were 1991 new cases in 143.000, there were only 2003 in 19.000. Mother-to-baby transmission has declined from XNUMX percent in the XNUMXs to just XNUMX percent in some regions.
Source: IPS
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and a lover of good music.
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