Thailand to reach zero AIDS target in five years

BANGKOK, June 14 (TNA) - The Thai public and private sectors are joining forces to reach the country’s goal of no new AIDS infection, zero AIDS-related death and no discrimination against HIV-infected persons over the next five years, under a national AIDS prevention and solution strategy 2012-2016. Thai Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa, who heads a national committee on AIDS prevention and solution, said Thursday that Thailand has successfully coped with AIDS gradually over the past 25 years, thanks to full support from the government and strong cooperation by all concerned parties. General Yuthasak acknowledged that the Thai government has tried to reduce the number of newly-infected persons, expand access to anti-AIDS medicines and assist communities in handling relevant impacts, resulting in Thailand's being internationally recognized for effective AIDS prevention and solution. Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri revealed that the Thai government's AIDS prevention and treatment are now targeting local youths, men who have sex with men, transvestites and HIV-infected persons, with concerned officials having campaigned for the use of condoms and increasing access to friendly checkups and medical services for sex-related health. According to the health minister, the number of HIV-infected persons in Thailand is estimated at 1.1 million and about 480,000 of them are alive. Of the people, 84 per cent infected HIV from sex affairs and the problem is serious among men who have affairs with men. A survey in 12 Thai provinces from 2007 to 2010 found that the prevalence of HIV infection peaked among men who had sex with men, standing at 10.05 per cent. The public health minister noted that his ministry has worked out the national strategy for AIDS prevention and solution, focusing on participation by the local public, civic and private sectors to achieve the Getting to Zero target over the next five years, covering no new HIV infection, no AIDS-related death and no discrimination on HIV-infected people. (TNA)