Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - September 7, 2006
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
In response to a report on the rising HIV/Aids problem in Finland, Dr Thawat questioned whether the Finnish Health Ministry, which published the report, had put any emphasis on action to deal with HIV/Aids transmission, particularly in risk groups.
A Finnish Health Ministry report quoted by the AFP news agency said the Scandinavian country expected to have more than 100 new HIV cases before the end of 2006, compared with 53 in 2001. The ministry's adviser, Merja Saarinen, said the Finns had contracted the disease abroad, particularly in Thailand, their favourite holiday destination.
Dr Thawat said it was essential that each country educated its people about HIV/Aids prevention. However, it depended more on individuals, if they were really concerned about the Aids problem, to practise safe sex. he added.
Since the early 1990s, Thailand has been running campaigns against HIV/Aids in the commercial sex sector by promoting 100% condom use in brothels and by independent sex workers.
Mechai Veravaidya, director of the Population and Community Development Association, criticised the Finnish adviser for putting the blame on Thailand and challenged the official to produce concrete evidence to support the allegations.
"Don't be so silly. Be realistic," he said.
Mr Mechai, known as Mr Condom for his successful family planning and Aids prevention campaigns through promotion of condom use, said he was wondering if the tourists in question had their blood tested before visiting Thailand.
He also urged foreign tourists not to come to Thailand for sex services.
However, Mr Mechai also expressed concern about the weak Aids prevention strategy during the past three years. Recent figures showed only 90% of sex workers used condoms.
The government should review anti-Aids campaigns and sex education, which should also target teenagers, married women and young adults, since they are indirectly at risk of contracting HIV/Aids from their sex partners, he said.
Public Health Ministry spokesman Sutham Srithamma said the authorities were looking for funds from international sources to run Aids prevention projects for teenagers and young adults as the local budget had been slashed.
There were about 800,000 HIV cases in Thailand. Of these, over 17,000 were found last year and considered new cases.
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