Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - November 9, 2005
Thai artists to join the mission include singers and bands such as BodySlam, Endorphine, 4 Gotten, Crescendo, Ben Chalatit, Thaitanium and Ruengsak "James" Loychusak.
In its third year, the concert aims to boost understanding about the global epidemic, and promote living in harmony with infected patients. The campaign, "Staying Alive", is geared toward raising awareness about the epidemic.
Despite ongoing attempts to educate people about HIV/Aids, the rate of new infections is still soaring. According to Unicef (Thailand), there are currently over 600,000 people living with HIV/Aids and up to 500,000 children affected by the disease. Over 289,000 children in Thailand have been orphaned and thousands have been born to HIV-positive mothers. But the major concern today is young people. Half of the infected people around the world are those between 15 and 24 years old, with most of the individuals acquiring the disease through unprotected sex due to a pervasive lack of understanding about how the disease is transmitted.
"The problems are getting more complex, and the risk group is younger people, especially female teenagers," said Andrew Morris, programme officer at Unicef (Thailand).
To get the preventive message across to youth, a number of organisations including Unicef, UN Aids and the Ministry of Health are launching the campaign with MTV.
"As the entertainment channel for teenagers, our programmes reflect their lifestyle and tastes," said Hunsa Thanomsing, general manager for MTV and VH1 Thailand.
Hunsa said she hopes "Staying Alive" will empower and educate all people, not just those affected by or infected with the disease.
MTV veejays will visit 12 provinces in the country - Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Sawan, Yala, Surat Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Pattaya, Rayong, Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya - to spread the message of the campaign, she added.
For more information and tickets to the concert, contact MTV Thailand on 02-681-4646 or visit www.mtvthailand.com. Outlook will also be giving away two tickets each to five lucky readers who can answer the following question: When is World Aids Day? Fax your answer to Outlook on 02-240-3668 before noon on November 18. The winners will be announced in Outlook on November 23.
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