Yuntadilok N; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. ThPeD7690.
AIDS Division, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
ISSUE: The close link to HIV/AIDS epidemic at Thai-Myanmar border is migration of Burmese to Thailand. These migrants are vulnerable to HIV infection due to illegal status, low education, lacking of AIDS information and inaccessibility to health services . Urgent application is needed. DESCRIPTION: Having aware of this problem,Thai Government requested UNAIDS support to solve the problem. The Thai-Myanmar joint project was initiated and implemented in 4 sites, the activities done were ; consultative meeting between Ministers of Public Health to set up policy and agreement; border health committee meeting to plan the appropriate action; local staff meeting to implememt the interventions; recruiting and training potential Burmese health volunteer to work with Burmese migrants LESSONS LEARNED: Though local Myanmar staffs had tried their best, many obstacles and barriers from the restriction of the Central government discouraged them from making proper decision and action. By political view, the border areas population is minority, neither source nor host countries cares about their quality of life. As health aspect, these population must have rights to access to basic health services. Illegal status obstructed them from accessing to health services. Thai government solve the problem by registering and issuing work permit. Gos and NGOs network must be established to facilitate and bridge the gap. It is essential to recruit potential volunteer who has the same subculture, understands beliefs and lifestyle and can easily reach the target group to work as a behaviour change communicator. RECOMMENDATION: Keys for effective HIV/AIDS prevention at the border are; political commitment without discriminating by races, ethnics or boundary, decentralization to the local staff to encourage them to perform appropriate action to protect not only borderline population but also the mainland population from HIV/AIDS infection.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Counseling
- Disease Outbreaks
- Emigration and Immigration
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Planning Guidelines
- Myanmar
- Population
- Public Policy
- Thailand
- Transients and Migrants
- education
- organization & administration
Other ID:
UI: 102253836
From Meeting Abstracts