HIV/AIDS

“HIV/AIDS Prevention Promotion, and Reduction of Stigma and Discrimination against PLWAs in Communities of Hua Hin District, Prachuab Khirikhan Province” project

As a sequel to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s address to PPAT Council’s members concerning on health and quality of life of residents of Hua Hin districrt, Prachuab Khirikhan province ‘There are many fishery activities and residents who are fishermen in Hua Hin district, Prachuab Khirikhan province. PPAT should initiate activities to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.’ PPAT has initiated the project “HIV/AIDS Prevention Promotion, and Reduction of Stigma and Discrimination against PLWAs in Communities of Hua Hin District, Prachuab Khirikhan Province in 2002, aiming to strengthen the effective HIV/AIDS prevention campaign to reduce stigma and discrimination against HIV infected persons in communities.

The project is one of the most successful projects of PPAT since the beginning as it is a result of earnest and continual campaigning and project implementation with the target population. PPAT has coordinated with concerned staff in the area, peer students and community leaders in 34 communities in Hua Hin district, Prachuab Khirikhan province to set up HIV/AIDS Prevention Clubs. Additionally, PPAT also organized a knowledge dissemination walking campaign on World AIDS Day (1 December) in 2008 on main street of Hua Hin district with participated by community leaders, students and concerned agencies. The volunteers distributed leaflets on HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention. This activity received good support from concerned agencies such as the Hua Hin Municipality, Hua Hin Hospital and Hua Hin Police Station.

The significant outcome of this project is that residents of target area recognize the importance of HIV/AIDS problems and reduce stigma and discrimination against HIV infected and affected persons. Moreover, concerned government and private agencies are aware of the importance of HIV/AIDs prevention, therefore, they are ready to support implementing HIV/AIDS prevention activities in the area. This collaboration from all stakeholders in Hua Hin district has resulted in setting up an HIV/AIDS Prevention Network which also plays an important part of the success of this project.

The success of this project is a fruition of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s intuition and concern towards the quality of life of Thai population. For this reason, PPAT is determined to implement this project continuously to follow Her Royal Highness’ will in improving quality of life of Thai people.

In 2008, PPAT has successfully implemented HIV/AIDS knowledge dissemination projects to various population groups throughout the country.

 

Projects in “HIV/AIDS” strategy

The “Mainstreaming STI/HIV and family planning services for the Hmong population in Thailand” project

This project aimed to provide reproductive health, family planning and HIV prevention knowledge and services to young people and villagers in Hmong communities and strengthen capacities of concerned reproductive health service providers in the area with the purpose of the sustainability of this project. The project was implemented in nine Hmong hill tribe villages in five districts of Chiangmai province.

The project has continued disseminating knowledge and raising awareness on family planning, STI and HIV prevention among young people and villagers in Hmong community since 2007. As a result, target groups have better understanding and acceptance of family planning. In 2008, PPAT has provided family planning services for 420 new clients, VCT tests for 27 clients, counseling on STIs and HIV/AIDS for 267 cases and referred 47 cases to government service providers. From the final evaluation report, it was found that 68.6 percent of villagers in Hmong community are satisfied and received benefits from this project, 61.4 percent of adults are satisfied with young people’s involvement in this project, 85.8 percent know that condoms can protect them from STIs and HIV/AIDS, and 86.1 percent have discussed HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning among family members. Local public health officers also reported that as a result of this project, Hmong community members have better understanding about reproductive health and family planning and receive reproductive health services at Public Health Stations more. Project volunteers, local administrative organizations, public health stations and communities will collaborate for the sustainability of activities after the project finished.

The “Strengthening capacities of communities in HIV/AIDS prevention and care for People living with HIV/AIDS group in Chiangmai” project

The project aimed to increase involvement of family and community in HIV prevention and care for people infected by HIV/AIDS, and those also affected. This was implemented in three PLWA centers: Huay Sai Ruam Jai center and San Pong Pattana center in Mae Rim district, and San Pa Yang center in Mae Taeng district, Chiangmai province. Overall, there are 79 HIV infected persons and 124 affected persons involved in these three centers.

PPAT conducted a meeting with a working group to develop a project implementation plan emphasizing community involvement in managing PLWA centers for sustainability and continuation. PPAT also conducted meetings for members of three PLWA centers and organized house-visits to people infected by HIV/AIDS, and those also affected, in the target area. PPAT staff and volunteers also organized knowledge dissemination activities with correct information on HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS prevention, practices with HIV infected persons and basic health care for people who infected by HIV. This activity has reached 554 persons, including people living with HIV/AIDS, students and communities. Additionally, PPAT also organized medical mobile unit service visits for people infected by HIV, those also affected, and community residents, with cooperation from concerned government agencies, community organizations and communities. This activity has served 609 clients in the communities and referred 54 HIV infected persons to the local hospital to receive anti-retroviral medicines (ARV) treatments. As a result of this project, the community dwellers have better understanding about HIV/AIDS and HIV infected persons. PLWAs and their families are accepted by communities and given work opportunities without any discrimination, which resulted in better quality of life of PLWAs.

The “Promotion of knowledge and skill in HIV Prevention among industrial factory workers in Pathumthani province” project

The project aimed to create understanding, acceptance and support among administrators of industrial factories and the network of HIVconcerned agencies in the area, in organising HIV prevention skill and knowledge dissemination activities for workers in 10 industrial factories in Muang district and Thanyaburi district, Pathumthani province.

This project received good support from administrator and Human Resources (HR) personnel of industrial workers and concerned staff from the Pathumthani Provincial Public Health Office and the Pathumthani Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Office in organising knowledge dissemination activities on HIV/AIDS and reproductive health. As part of the activities, PPAT has conducted small group discussions and an exhibition, and distributed pamphlets and condoms to participants. Moreover, PPAT also supported organising a knowledge dissemination campaign on special occasions such as general health check-up day, New Year day, and Valentine’s day, in six factories which are the Pathumthani Brewery limited company, Prayoon Orchid limited company, Thai Glico limited company, Greenspot limited company, Riken (Thailand) limited company and Bangkok Glass limited company. Overall, 1,660 persons participated in these activities.

The “Strengthening a network of teachers in non-formal education centers in organising knowledge dissemination on HIV/AIDS prevention for students” project

This project aimed to raise awareness and create cooperation among government agencies, private agencies and civil organizations, and strengthen capacity and skill of non-formal education teachers in organizing HIV prevention knowledge dissemination activities for students in Pathumthani and Nonthaburi provinces.

PPAT has conducted meetings with administrators Pathumthani and Nonthaburi Provincial Education Office and concerned staff the district level, such as district Public Health Offices and district Human Development Offices, to clarify the project’s objectives, and develop working plan together. As part of the project, PPAT conducted training of trainers and training for non-formal education teachers in organising HIV prevention knowledge dissemination activities. As a result, participating teachers were able to organize knowledge dissemination activities on HIV prevention for students. Overall 270 persons took part in these activities.

The “Collaborative workers in preventing HIV/AIDS, Pathumthani province” project

The project aimed to increase involvement of families and communities in HIV/AIDS and STIs prevention, and stigma and discrimination reduction, among industrial factory workers in Muang district and Thanyaburi district, Pathumthani province.

PPAT has collaborated with eleven industrial factories in organising knowledge dissemination activities on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention in the factories. The administrators and workers of factories all understood and supported the knowledge dissemination activities. PPAT not only organized an exhibition and distributed pamphlets on HIV and STIs prevention, but also provided counselling services on HIV/AIDS prevention. Approximately 1,818 workers have received information from this project.