Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - August 5, 2001
Cheewin Sattha
The number was lower than expected as up to 100,000 pills had been prepared. This would have been enough for 10,000 patients. In the previous hand-outs in Bangkok, HIV/Aids sufferers travelled from across the country and packed out venues.
The hand-out was put on by the Salang Bunnag Foundation and intended to save time and costs for people in the North including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, Lamphun, Lampang and Mae Hong Son. More than 300 volunteers, including hospital staff, police and students were mobilised.
Ambulances supplied by various hospitals were at the ready to take any patients who fell ill. Staff at Nakhon Ping Hospital were put on standby for emergency cases.
Foundation chairman Pol Gen Salang Bunnag said pills would be delivered to some patients who could not travel.
A 35-year-old male patient said he was willing to take the pills even though they were not officially deemed drugs, and may at best be a food supplement.
Entertainment was put on. An actor flew from Hong Kong to take part in the hand-out. Luk thung singer Kristie took to the stage along with dancers in fancy costumes.
Hand-outs were expected to continue until 11 pm last night. A clean-up would begin straight after. Infected waste would be managed and put away properly, organisers said. Wutthikrai Mungmai, public health official, said HIV/Aids sufferers should not rely on V-1 Immunitor pills alone because they were not drugs.
There were about 17,000 HIV/Aids sufferers in the province, and some 4,000 people had died.
Most infected people were in the labour force, and aged between 25-39. V-1 Immunitor pills are being tested by the Public Health Ministry to determine their properties.
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