AEGiS-Bangkok Post: HIV/Aids rate rising among draftees, says army report

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HIV/Aids rate rising among draftees, says army report

Bangkok Post - December 6, 2006
Wassana Nanuam

The HIV/Aids infection rate is rising among military conscripts, particularly those stationed in Bangkok and Rayong provinces, according to an army medical report. Lt-Gen Boonlert Chanthapas, surgeon-general of the army's Medical Department, said the HIV/Aids infection rate is about 0.5% of conscripts nationwide. Draftees based in Bangkok and Rayong provinces had a higher rate of infection than those in other provinces, although the figures were not released.

He said new conscripts were required to undergo blood tests to check for HIV/Aids. The bills for the blood tests were footed by the Public Health Ministry, which documents the spread of Aids among various groups in the country.

Lt-Gen Boonlert said most of the infected conscripts had contracted the deadly disease before they were drafted.

The number of HIV-positive conscripts attached to the First Army has slightly increased while the Second, Third and Fourth Armies have reported a decline in the number of Aids infections among their draftees.

To prevent Aids from spreading, medical staff were sent out on a campaign to raise awareness about the danger of the disease among conscripts.

Lt-Gen Boonlert said it was necessary to provide knowledge about safe sex to soldiers and conscripts.

The campaign promotes the use of condoms during sex.

He said no figures were available of soldiers or conscripts having same-sex sexual encounters.

He also expressed concern over the problem of premature sex among teenagers, the most vulnerable group, Lt-Gen Boonlert noted.

He urged the Public Health Ministry to urgently launch a campaign to educate teenagers about safe sex.

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