Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - July 14, 2003
This setback in national development is entirely because of the ravages of Aids. The disease hit Thailand some 15 years ago, accelerated rapidly and now is killing part of a generation. And life expectancy figures show just the results of full-blown Aids. The suffering of victims of HIV, the virus that causes Aids, also has pulled the country down in the past 10 years. The UN says the so-called "human development index" ranks Thailand at 74th place among all the world's countries, a drop of four places in just one year.
Yes, there are proud achievements cited in the comparative United Nations report. For example, Thailand is cited as a model middle-income country for raising teachers' salaries and motivation. Thailand ranks very high on the world list of access to clean water, with more than 80% of rural people and close to 100% of urban residents having access to sustainable supplies of clean water. Infant mortality has dropped from 74 per 100,000 births to 24 in 30 years. The under-five child mortality rate has dropped even more dramatically, from 102 per 100,000 children to 28 during the same period. The developed world aside, out of 94 developing countries, Thailand ranks 24th, with Barbados number one and Africa's Niger way below.
The pride Thais might take in such figures palls beside the atrocious, stark statistics on Aids. United Nations numbers, carefully weighted for all countries, show a million Thais have been infected with HIV/Aids. More than 700,000 fight the syndrome daily, either with HIV or full blown Aids. Meanwhile, 300,000 have already died.
Thailand is regularly cited by international organisations and reports as a world leader in the effective fight against Aids. Last week's UN Human Development Report used Thailand as the top model of an efficient battler. But that just illustrates how big a problem we all face. Here in Thailand, Aids cases continue to rise, and tens of thousands are denied proper medication at affordable prices.
This epidemic is already affecting the national security of Thailand by killing off a significant part of a generation. Every new case adds to the burden. The Thai government, communities and private organisations have done an excellent job in slowing the spread of Aids. The rate of growth of the disease has reversed. But that is not enough.
It is important for the government and all citizens to heed the call of veteran anti-Aids fighter and senator Mechai Viravaidya. Mr Mechai said the issue of Aids is fading from public attention. Careful and credible figures show more young people indulging in unsafe sex. The use of condoms is falling. The government shows an attention deficit on the subject. Funding for Aids programmes is falling rapidly.
The growth of the epidemic in Africa may seem like old news, but it threatens everyone in this globalised world. Aids as a growing threat is at our borders. UN experts now say Burma, Cambodia and China are the three most likely countries to experience a fast rise in serious Aids problems. The sex trade, human migration and undocumented immigration all pose a threat to Thailand, no matter how good we may consider our past Aids programmes. It is time to revitalise these programmes, including strong education campaigns in schools and for youth. Aids is not nearly defeated.
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