Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - April 4, 2000
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi and Yuwadee Tunyasiri
The panel, chaired by the prime minister, cleared requests from 10 ministries for funds which will be further considered by the Budget Bureau, said Dr Somsong Rakpao, director of the Communicable Disease Control Department, said.
Of the total, 24% will be used for social services and the rest public health, including 52 million baht for research and 211 million baht for prevention schemes.
The panel acknowledged the current Aids situation in Thailand and agreed to place greater emphasis on prevention, research and development and the participation of local groups.
Efforts to combat Aids since 1984 had worked to a certain level, it was agreed. The spread of the disease had been stemmed although the infection rates among some groups, such as drug addicts and prostitutes, remains high.
It was found in 1999 that the percentage of drug addicts infected through the use of syringes rose from the previous year to 51 from 47.5%; among pregnant women to 1.74 from 1.53; and among men with sexually-transmitted diseases to 9.1 from 8.5.
However, HIV infection among prostitutes had a tendency to drop.
Currently, it is estimated that one million Thais are infected, mostly from sexual intercourse. The male/female ratio is 3.6:1.
Of 137,817 Aids patients nationwide, 37,957 have died.
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