Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS - Groups - Action Tools

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From:	Adeyemo Gabriel [ profile ]
Subject:	Ambitious HIV/AIDS mission launched
Sent:	Apr 28th, 2011 - 20:29:42

	Source:* The Nation (Bangkok)* http://www.thebody.com/content/art61570.html In line with UNAIDS guidelines, Thailand's Public Health Ministry is boosting its efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Toward the goal of zero new infections, the ministry is targeting at-risk groups, including housewives, sex workers, and men who have sex with men. Thailand logs roughly 10,850 new HIV infections annually. Of these patients: 33 percent are MSM; 28 percent are housewives who contracted the virus from their husband or regular sex partner; 10 percent are men who contracted the virus from their spouse; 10 percent are men who contracted it from sex workers; 9 percent are injection drug users. Seven percent of new infections are linked to casual sex. Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said sex education is an important tool for stopping new infections. "For example, we have provided 16 to 30 hours of sex education to students each year," he said. In addition, ministry officials have upped the threshold for which antiretroviral treatment is recommended. ARVs used to be prescribed only after CD4 counts fell below 200; the figure is now 350. The government budget for free treatment has been boosted to baht 2.99 billion (US $99.5 million) this year, up from baht 2.7 billion (US $89.6 million) in 2010. "We have also provided free treatment to alien workers suffering from AIDS," said Jurin. To ensure zero discrimination, we don't allow employers to subject their employees to HIV blood tests before recruitment," the minister noted. Free, twice-yearly HIV testing is available to every Thai through the government's health care programs. click on the link above to read full article -- Many Thanks Yours' in Prevention Science Adeyemo Damilare Gabriel Regional Focal Point - West Africa Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AID (GYCA) +234-80-6798-7317 \| gabriel (at) gyca.org www.gyca.org \| www.tigweb.org GYCA is a youth-led global network of more than 4,500 young leaders and adult allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 150 countries world-wide. GYCA's mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst their peers. Universal Access is possible; * Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths.** *

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