Global Communication & Marketing
- • China CDC-Guangzhou Province Visits US CDC (Nov 08)
- • Lao PDR-Thailand Border – HIV/STI Prevention & Care (Aug 08)
- • China – The New Health Marketing Frontier (Apr 08)
- • Avian Influenza Journalist Workshops (Feb 08)
- • Kenya (Nov 07)
Other Spotlights:
Spotlight: HIV and STI Prevention and Care along Lao PDR-Thailand Border
Martha Scherzer, currently working as a contractor with the Global Communication and Marketing team, served as deputy chief of the GAP Asia Regional Program for 5 years. While visiting the northern Thailand/Lao PDR border, she worked with GAP Thailand and community-based organizations to strength HIV prevention and treatment in the area.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a low HIV prevalence country with increasing links to its neighboring countries, all experiencing higher HIV prevalence. Northeast Thailand and Lao PDR share a similar language and culture, and travel is common between the two countries. Thailand’s long experience in HIV prevention, care and treatment has resulted in the development of services available to most of the population at low cost. However, these services may not be available to all people living in border areas although risk behaviors around some border crossings are common.
Providing clinical services for female sex workers is one of three components of a project that seeks to strengthen HIV prevention along the northern Thailand/Lao PDR border. Basic primary health care was provided by staff of Srinthorn District Hospital, near the border crossing.
Building on existing positive relationships between provincial health officials on both sides of the border, we sought to strengthen HIV prevention and care services around the Chong Mek, Thailand-Vong Tao, Lao PDR checkpoint. We designed a comprehensive approach that includes the 3 main components: 1) clinical services targeting female sex workers, 2) an annual, one-day health fair targeting men with sexual risk behavior, and 3) an innovative behavior change communications intervention targeting a range of mobile people including sex workers and their clients. This project implemented 3 consecutive health fairs reaching nearly 400 men with sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing at the border site. Our community clinic serves mainly sex workers twice monthly. The Reflection and Action within Most at-risk Populations (RAMP) intervention approach has been used to develop has been used to develop a series of comic books that address risk reduction through role model stories and regular group facilitation.
This comprehensive, cross-border project would not have been possible without strong partnerships on many levels. Working with provincial health officials in Ubon Ratchathani province (Thailand) and Champasak province (Lao PDR), as well as a local hospital and community-based organization, helped strengthen ties across the border. Plans are now underway for combining local and external resources to support ongoing activities in this area.
For her full account, see "A Comprehensive Approach to HIV and STI Prevention and Care in a Cross-Border Setting."
Date last reviewed: August 15, 2007
Date last updated: August 15, 2007
Content source: National Center for Health Marketing
Content owner: National Center for Health Marketing