Success Projects
Success Projects in 2011
In 2011, PPAT implemented projects according to the Strategic Plan of the Association which covers 7 areas of adolescents and young people, HIV/AIDS, unplanned pregnancy, accessibility to reproductive health information and services, advocacy, aging and organizational development. PPAT achieved all strategic objectives in creating quality of life and well being of all population groups. All PPAT projects served unmet needs of target populations properly and covered outreach communities and populations.
ADOLESCENTS/YOUNG PEOPLE
“Raising Awareness among Thai Youth on Reproductive Health and Drug Prevention” Project
Increase understanding and awareness of young people on sexual and reproductive health and rights
In globalization world, social contexts of the Thai society have changed dramatically. Information technology enables people to communicate rapidly and beyond borders through various media channels. Young people and adolescents in particular tend to receive information and stimulations without critical thinking or analyzing skills and thus cause many social problems. It is found that unplanned pregnancy, HIV/AIDS infection and drug abuse among young people is higher than other 
population groups. PPAT with fund from the Foundation for the Planned Parenthood of Thailand (FPT) initiated the “Raising Awareness among Thai Youth on Reproductive Health and Drug Prevention” projectaiming to increase knowledge and awareness of young people on sexual and reproductive health and rights, to care for their sexual health and to prevent drug abuse among young people. In 2011, the project targeted on students from 10 vocational schools and universities, which are Dhurakij Pundit University, Kasetsart University, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Panyapiwat Techno Business, Kasemsant Business Administration Technological of College, Varatip Business Technological College, Kunnatee Ruttara Wittayakom School, Minburi Poly Technic School, Santirat Institute of Business Administration. The project trained peer educators who are students from above-mentioned educational institutes to write proposals for projects to disseminate knowledge and campaign on reproductive health including preventing unplanned pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and drug prevention in their respective institutes.
PPAT organized a workshop in order to train peer educators and teachers, total 70 persons on proposal writing skills and knowledge dissemination techniques. After the workshop ended, trained peer educators established a network called ‘SMART SEX’ group.
‘SMART SEX’ group prepared campaign activity on 14 February 2012 which is also Valentine’s day using theme ‘Youngsters Knows Prevention and Reproductive Health’ at Santirat Institute of Business Administration. Professor Dr. Damrong Reinprayoon, President of PPAT chaired the opening ceremony. Youth icons such as stars and artists who recognized significance of the project also attended the activity. This activity attracted journalists and was mentioned in several media.
Approximately 3,500 young people were direct beneficiaries of the project while approximately 30,000 young people were reached through media. The project achieved in one of PPAT’s goals as being leading agency on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Thailand. PPAT also received additional funds from business agencies in organizing this activity.
HIV/AIDS
“Comprehensive HIV Prevention among FSWs by Promoting Integrated Outreach and Networking” (CHAMPION-FSW)
Volunteer-based HIV/AIDS prevention activities for fellow female sex workers (FSWs)
In 2009, PPAT was selected as Sub-Recipient (SR) in Thailand under the Global Fund Round 8 (2009-2014) in the “Comprehensive HIV-Prevention among MARPs by Promoting Integrated Outreach and Networking (CHAMPION)” project, targeting female sex workers (FSWs). The project aims to promote HIV prevention and increase access of FSWs to available reproductive health services.
From the Ministry of Public Health survey, there are a total 111,627 female sex workers throughout Thailand. Among these, approximately 4,600 persons or 4.12% are HIV infected. After implementing the project for 3 years, the project has reached 33,000 FSWs, which can be calculated that the project has prevented approximately 6,600 FSWs from HIV infection. One of key factors of this achievement is that target populations can access to knowledge and services from Drop-in Centers which locate close to entertainment establishments in all target provinces. Some FSWs are also volunteers in Drop-in Centers, which make their fellow FSWs feel familiar and became more enthusiastic to access to Drop-in Centers.
The project received positive feedbacks from target populations. Many FSWs became project volunteers and worked actively on disseminating knowledge to their fellow FSWs. The project also received good cooperation from entertainment owners in encouraging FSWs to volunteer for the project, and provided venues for activity implementation. As a result, the project achieved in its goal to reduce newly HIV infection among FSWs by 50%. At the present, there are more than 700 FSW volunteers working in 41 provinces throughout Thailand.
Another achievement of the project is that the project has reduced stigmatization and discrimination against FSWs from general public. The project also promoted social inclusion FSWs by organizing activities that FSWs work with communities on social events. The activities helped reducing gaps between FSWs and communities and created social inclusion of FSWs.
In 2011, PPAT continued working as Sub-Recipient (SR) for Phase 2 of the project. PPAT’s roles are implementer and monitoring other 2 Sub-Sub Recipients (SSR) namely Empower and SWING, and with 4 Implementing Agencies (IA) namely SDA, FAR, PDA and NET. The project focused on decentralization to respective SSRs and IAs in each of 41 target provinces to disseminate knowledge and information on reproductive health and rights including HIV/AIDS and STIs, gender roles and knowledge dissemination skills. The project also referred FSWs to VCCT and health examination services. The project encouraged involvement of civil society and government agencies for sustainability of the project. From PPAT continuous works, assessment of activity implementation methods and sharing experiences with networks, the project has achieved in many ways. FSWs raised awareness on their rights and became able to access to health and HIV prevention services. Rights of FSWs to access to available government health services were ensured. They received counseling services regarding family planning and reproductive health. Network agencies referred clients to concerned agencies to receive services and provided FSWs with comprehensive information on HIV/AIDS and STIs prevention as well as reproductive health and rights. Approximately 33,300 FSWs were reached through the project.
ADVOCACY
“Information Education Motivation for Quality of Life Improvement(IEM)” Project
In order to achieve PPAT’s goals to promote quality of life of people, PPAT needs supports from all sectors, including civil society, opinion leaders, religious leaders, government, private sectors and mass media. PPAT thus has been advocating with all sectors for promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
PPAT regards that media has power in social movement. In 2011, PPAT advocated with general public by strengthen network with mass media including television stations, radio stations and printed media. PPAT received good cooperation from Channel 9, Channel 7, Chanel 11, Thai PBS TV, Chanel 3, Chanel 5, cable TV, Khao Sod Newspaper, Matichon Newspaper, Naewna Newspaper and magazines in broadcasting and publishing PPAT projects and activities.
PPAT expanded communication channels with general public through internet. PPAT’s website was developed to attract users and provides up-to-dated activities and news. PPAT also created channel in social media such as Facebook to communicate with younger generations. In 2011, PPAT produced radio programmes which were broadcasted through 35 radio stations and spot radios which were broadcasted through 150 radio stations.
PPAT also produced IEC materials such as brochures, leaflets and video documentations on reproductive health issues including HIV/AIDS prevention, contraceptive pills, condom usage, prevention of sexual and gender based violence, etc.
Through advocating with mass media, civil society became more aware of and supported works of PPAT. Many business enterprises including MSD (Thailand) Ltd. and DKT Healthcare (Thailand) Co.Ltd. started the Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) scheme with PPAT. As a result, approximately 250,000 persons were reached through the project.
ACCESSIBILITY TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INFORMATION AND SERVICES
“Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Services and Knowledge to the Myanmar-Karen Refugees Along Thai-Myanmar Border in Tak and Mae Hong Son Provinces”
PPAT values the rights to access to reproductive health and family planning information and services are human rights. These rights apply to all people regardless of origin, race or religious. PPAT also believes that all barriers to impede people from accessing to reproductive health and family planning information and services must be removed. PPAT implemented projects targeting refugees and migrants living along Thai-Myanmar border provinces to fill gaps on unmet needs on reproductive health knowledge and services.
PPAT began providing sexual and reproductive health services to refugees in camps since 1999. PPAT provided SRH services and information; advocated women’s reproductive health and rights to men’s and leaders; and trained and supported Refugee Assistant Nurses RAN), Peer Educators (PE) and Community Based Distributors (CBD). These activities enhanced reproductive health status and gender relations of the people. Empowered women could negotiate safer sexual behaviour, and choose the numbers of children they want. Men’s and women’s attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health and rights improved. PPAT advocated preventing gender-based violence to men and community leaders. Youth participated in the peer education, peer counseling, and youth groups, on safer sexual behaviour and SRH services. Staff and volunteers conducted outreach to newly arrived refugees.
This work caused measurable results. There have been significant improvements in men’s and 
women’s attitudes toward SRH&R, and relationships between attitudes towards women’s status, SRH knowledge, and men’s involvement in SRH. The contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) has increased while the crude birth rate (CBR) has reduced significantly in all camps since the project implementation.
In 2011, PPAT implemented 3 projects to promote well being of refugees in 5 camps namely Mae La and Um Piem in Tak province and Mae La Oon, Mae Rama Luang and Ban Mai Nai Soi in Mae Hong Son province.
PPAT received innovative fund from IPPF for the“Knowledge dissemination on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights toFemale Migrants and Refugees along the Thai-Myanmar Border in Tak and Mae Hong Son Provinces”project. This fund was granted to member associations (MAs) that submitted project proposals that include creative and innovative activities. This project aims to enhance sexual and reproductive health and rights and increase access to reproductive health information and services of migrants and refugees along Thai-Myanmar border, particularly women and young women, with involvement of men.
PPAT received cooperation from leaders, camp committees, women groups, peer educators and 
concerned agencies in camps in providing services to refugees in 5 camps along Thai-Myanmar border including Mae La and Um Piem camps in Tak province, Mae Rama Luang, Mae La Oon and Ban Mai Nai Soi in Mae Hong Son province. The project aimed to create awareness on sexual and reproductive health and rights, family planning, maternal and child health, reduce risky behaviours and HIV and STIs prevention. The project also aims to increase access to reproductive health and family planning information and services among refugees on voluntary basis. As a result, 16,000 refugees received knowledge and services from this project.
UNPLANNED PREGNANCY
“Reproductive Health and Unplanned Pregnancy Counseling” Project
According to statistic by WHO and UNICEF, an average of fertility rate of adolescent (15-19) who giving birth is 65 per 1,000 women while an average of the region (East and South Asia and Pacific) is 56 per 1,000 women. However, the data from Ministry of PublicHealthwas shown that in 2009 fertility rate of adolescent in Thailand was as high as 70 per 1,000 women, which was as high as countries with more population than Thailand such as India and Bangladesh, and marks the highest among ASEAN countries. It is also found that sexual activity and pregnancy start at lower age. The main cause of unplanned pregnancy among young people in Thailand is from lack of understanding on contraception.
PPAT is aware of the issue of teenage pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy. In 2011, PPAT implemented activities to prevent unplanned pregnancy by involving men and implemented outreach activities targeting young people in schools, factories and communities. PPAT implements programme aiming that both men and women can exercise the right to choose appropriate family planning services and receive counseling services. In order to achieve this, PPAT provides quality and safe services on reproductive health, sexuality education, family planning, risky behaviours reduction and HIV and STIs prevention.
In 2011, PPAT implemented the “Reproductive Health and Unplanned Pregnancy Counseling” project, using budget 177,392 Baht. PPAT provided counseling on family planning, reproductive health and disseminate knowledge on sexuality education, reduce risky behaviours and prevent HIV and STIs infection. PPAT sent out staff to give lecture both in and out of schools, and provided knowledge and services for workers in factories as requested. Throughout the year, there are 5,985 persons received services.
AGING
“Health Promotion for Aging and Elder Population in Doi Tung Development Project”
The United Nations has estimated that during the 21st century (2001-2100), proportion of aging population will rise as high as 10% of the world population. This population group tends to be economically dependent and requires huge resources from governments for care and social welfare.
In 2005, as a consequence of success in family planning policy and development of medical care and health technologies, aging population in Thailand has reached 10.4%, which made Thailand became considered as an aging society. The National Statistical Office and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have showed similar forecast that by 2050, almost 30% of Thai population will be elderly persons.
PPAT concerned that issues regarding aging population need to be focused. Thus PPAT has included this issue in the Strategic Plan (2011-2015).
In 2011, PPAT continued the Health Promotion for Aging and Elder Population in Doi Tung Development Project by expanding target areas to cover 3 more villages; hence the project covered 9 villages in total. PPAT with cooperation from 4 health promotion hospitals in project area organized trainings to build capacity of elder persons. Volunteers supported elder persons, their families and dwellers in communities in organizing activities such as exercise, income generation, water purification, build water jars, home-grown garden and herbs cultivation. The project also received good cooperation from local administration offices to provide seeds and agricultural equipments and dispatch medical teams. PPAT conducted study trips for elder persons to learn and share experiences. The project also organized medical mobile clinic to provide blood test to detect chemical substances (1,101 times), cervical cancer and basic breast cancer examination (1,380 times) and general health services (366 times). PPAT also supported elderly clubs to organize knowledge dissemination activities within communities. As a result, approximately 3,600 elderly persons were reached through this project.
