Condom Donation By Thailand Reflects Their Own Fight Against Hiv/aids

For almost 20 years, Thailand has been the focus of an intensive effort to stop the spread of HIV/Aids among its population of approximately 65 million.

A survey in 1988 found that 44% of sex workers in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand were already infected with HIV. But it was not until 1991 that the government got serious in its efforts to curb the spread of the infection.

Eventually greatly increased budgets led to a massive public information campaign on the dangers of AIDS. The government also introduced a "100 percent condom program" in which condoms were distributed free to brothels and massage parlours, and sex workers were required to use them. Brothels that did not comply were closed.

As a result of these and other programs, the number of new HIV infections was reduced from 140,000 in 1991 to 21,000 in 2003. Still, 1% of the 65 million people in Thailand are infected with HIV, and AIDS has become the leading cause of death.

It is projected that more than 50,000 Thais will die each year from Aids-related causes, at least until the end of 2006. More than 90% of these deaths will be young people aged 20-44.

So although a concerted effort has been made to stem the tide of HIV infection in Thailand, the success rate has only been moderate. And little has been done to stop infection amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) who share needles.

Most new infections still start with sex trade workers or IDUs and within two years are passed on to spouses.

**Thailand to donate 50,000 condoms to Africa**

In a move consistent with their own moderate success at fighting HIV/AIDS with condoms, the government announced they were donating 50,000 condoms to seven African countries as part of their "forward engagement" program to help with the UN effort to fight HIV/Aids in Africa.

The condoms will be provided by Thailand's foreign and health ministries and shipped by the United Nations Development Programme to Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Gabon, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the most heavily infected area in the world. An estimated 25.8 million people had been infected by HIV at the end of 2005 and approximately 3.1 million new infections occurred during last year.

Apart from abstaining from sexual contact altogether, the use of condoms is the only effective means to help prevent the spread of HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases.

**Donation of condoms condemned by Nigerian Archbishop**

In an announcement that underscores the debate taking place in many countries over tactics being used to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, a leading Thai Catholic Archbishop voiced strong opposition to ongoing distribution of condoms.

In spite of its endorsement by the U.N. the condom donation annouced by the Thai government has been vigorously condemned by Nigerian Archbishop Anthony Cardinal Okogie. He described the move as immoral and quite likely to promote irresponsible sex and promiscuity.

In a press release he said, "Do they know the effect of the production to the youths and the nation? The government should fight poverty, hunger, sicknesses, diseases, and the lack of social amenities plaguing the nation, instead of fighting AIDS with condom production," he stated.

He also opposed any NACA (National Action Committee on Aids) Bill before the Nigerian National Assembly that included manufacturing of condoms in Nigeria, saying; "it will encourage immorality, sex on demand, promiscuity, irresponsibility and prostitution. Condom, knowingly and intentionally, offends the ends of marriage, which is procreation and says no to the bearing of children but promiscuity.

"It is unfortunate that while other embassies are promoting trade, bilateral relations, we are encouraging cheap money and cheap production of condoms to encourage our youths on immorality."

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