Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - Tuesday 18 December 2001
Cheewin Sattha
Prasert Techaboon, representing Thai HIV/Aids patients at yesterday's opening of a four-day international conference on Aids, said that while cheaper care and treatment would prolong their lives, understanding and respect would boost their morale.
"I can sense the international community's intention to care for HIV/Aids patients. The world community must develop a comprehensive care scheme to ensure both a good quality of life as well as dignity," he said.
Besides care programmes for people living with HIV/Aids, there was a need for manufacturers to lower the prices of HIV/Aids drugs, Mr Prasert said.
HIV/Aids patients in Thailand pay between 15,000-20,000 baht monthly for drugs and their counterparts in other poor countries spend about the same or more.
Boonniam Wongjaikham, chairman of the Network of People Living With HIV/Aids in the Upper North, recalled how he spent more than three years to rid his family of fears and win their understanding.
He also called on health authorities and other parties concerned to educate HIV/Aids patients about how to protect themselves from opportunistic diseases.
"It is an important thing and it is something that HIV/Aids patients can do to help themselves," Mr Boonniam said.
More than 3,000 people from around the world are taking part in the four-day 5th International Conference on Home and Community Care for People Living with HIV/Aids.
Prapan Panumas, director of Aids Research Programme of the Thai Red Cross Society, yesterday called for better access to information about the Aids situation and development of HIV/Aids drugs.
Anupong Chitvarakorn, director of Aids division at the Communicable Diseases Control Deparmnent, said a panel has been set up to study a proposal that HIV/Aids drugs be included in the government's 30-baht medical care scheme.
Representatives of HIV/Aids patients also sit on the committee.
About 250 million baht was expected to be set aside for procurement of HIV/Aids drugs for some 5,000 patients nationwide, Mr Anupong said. Once the drugs became cheaper, more patients would benefit.
The conference, opened by HRH Princess Soamsawali, is aimed at developing strategies to help protect the rights of HIV/Aids sufferers and to find out how families and communities can tend to their needs.
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