Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - September 25, 2007
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
"We don't have the budget to continue the commercials on television. However, we will promote the condom campaign through other activities instead," said Disease Control Department chief Thawat Sundarachan.
Anupong Chitworakarn, director of the Global Fund in Thailand, insisted the "proud to carry condoms" campaign would not be cancelled completely.
But he said the project will be promoted at schools and educational institutions via other activities such as exhibitions and concerts instead when the commercial contract ends. The department receives the budget to run the TV commercial from the Global Fund.
The two versions of the advert - teenagers and adults buying condoms over the counter at a convenience store, and teenagers seeing health officials at community clinics to get condoms - have been on air for over two months. But some conservative public groups have criticised them saying they damaged Thai culture and even encouraged teenagers to be sexually active. They asked the broadcasting authorities to air the adverts after 10pm.
However, a group of 30 teenagers representing the Thai Youth Network on HIV/Aids and a network of people living with HIV/Aids defended the commercials saying they were well-intended and did not encourage teenagers to engage in sexual activity. They also disagreed with the idea of running the ads after 10pm.
Yesterday, they submitted a letter to Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla to keep the commercials running.
"The ad has provided us with opportunities to communicate more with our parents on the topic of sex which should not be regarded as taboo any longer," Supawat Kiewkad, 16, from Makkasan Witthaya school, said it should be an obligation for young people to carry condoms to protect themselves and their partners from unwanted pregnancies, HIV/Aids and other sexual diseases.
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