Public officials, educators and health professionals in Pattaya marked World AIDS Day with a parade and educational exhibition.
The Service Workers in Group Foundation, Sisters for Foundation, World Vision Foundation of Thailand, Father Ray Foundation, hoteliers, public health volunteers, and students from Pattaya and Banglamung schools participated in the Dec. 1 parade from Central Festival Pattaya Beach to Pattaya School No. 8.
Marchers carried signs in Thai and English with AIDS information, passed out condoms to those watching and finished at School No. 8 for educational activities.
Students from Pattaya and Banglamung show up in force at the parade, holding signs announcing the campaign.
Pattaya Public Health Director Suphaporn Cherdchaipum and City Councilman Choosak Sriwatjanapong spoke about the 1.2 million of Thailand’s 67 million people who are infected with the HIV virus.
Representatives from health and AIDS services march in the parade.
“Pattaya, as a tourism city with diversity including many businesses and entertainment venues from all over the country, has many youths, all of whom are at risk for AIDS and do not always have the correct understanding of the disease,” Suphaporn said.
Members of the Service Workers in Group Foundation spread the word – “let’s get AIDS down to Zero!”
Every year the World Health Organization designates Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day with this year’s theme again being “Getting to Zero.” Organizers promoted a message of reducing the number of new HIV infections, AIDS deaths and stigmas associated with carrying the disease.
Officials and friends take to the stage on World AIDS Day, announcing the new policy “Getting to zero”.
People from all walks of life march in the parade to reiterate the risks of spreading or contracting HIV.
