Pattaya and Chonburi public-health officials hope to improve efforts to prevent HIV and AIDS by cross-checking health records, distributing more condoms and better educating workers in Pattaya’s red light district.
At a Feb. 6 meeting of city and provincial health officials and AIDS volunteer groups, Anya Janthrakas, the head of Pattaya’s transmittable-disease control office, said medical reports made by area hospitals and clinics need to be shared by all agencies and institutions battling AIDS in the Pattaya area.
Pattaya and Chonburi public-health officials offer health checks twice monthly to bar workers and distribute free condoms to tourists.
Attendees at the city hall session called for a larger supply of condoms to be distributed to tourists and Thai bar workers, and outlined budget requests to fund efforts to educate “independent female (and male) employees” working everywhere from dark alleys to go-go bars to massage parlors.
Anya said the city offers health checks twice monthly to bar workers and distributes free condoms to tourists. Other teams visit gay bars, massage parlors and other areas to educate workers on the risks of HIV and how to avoid contracting it.
Another “emergency team,” she said, provides information on various diseases and preventative methods to target streetwalkers.
