Aids Epidemic in Thailand: Good News, Bad News, and a Warning

Abstract

Thailand. Between 1985 and 2006, an estimated 1,102,628 people (adults and children) were infected with HIV and 558,578 died of AIDS related complications (data from the Thailand A2 Team cited in AIDS Thailand, 2007). These numbers are large (one is too many). They represent a level of human tragedy and misery beyond measure. Nevertheless, Thailand’s response to the AIDS epidemic has been one of the most successful in the world. Its no-nonsense, pragmatic approach to combating the disease prevented millions of new infections (Brown, 2003; UNDP, 2004). Because of past actions, reductions are now being seen in the number of people (adults and children) living with HIV, the number of adults (15+) living with HIV, the number of children (0-14) living with HIV, and the number of deaths of adults and children from AIDS (UNAIDS/WHO, 2006). In addition, the number of new annual HIV infections in the general population continues to drop from its early 90s high (UNDP, 2004: 2; UNAIDS/WHO, 2006: 32). Moreover, rates of HIV infection among pregnant women have declined significantly from their highs in the mid90s (UNAIDS/WHO, 2006a:6; UNAIDS/WHO, 2004:2). There has been a reduction in motherto-child transmission of HIV (WHO, 2006). More good news: 75% of all HIV-infected pregnant women now receive AZT to prevent MTCT, virtually all children born to HIV-infected mothers receive drug treatment, and just over half of the 12,000 children needing antiretroviral therapy are currently receiving it (WHO, 2006). Make no mistake, problems remain. Without © Kamla-Raj 2008 J. Soc. Sci., 16(1): 79-80 (2008)