BANGKOK, 11 May 2012 – The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has praised Thailand for her effective campaign on fighting against HIV/AIDS.
After a meeting with UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific Dr.Nafis Sadik, Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said Dr Sadik praised Thailand for its effective AIDS prevention strategy in the past 28 years.
She said Thailand is among the top countries in the world to have successful HIV/AIDS campaigns, adding Thailand’s plans coincide with the the UNAIDS target, which includes no more new patient, no more death, and no discrimination.
Mr Witthaya stated that the nation has earmarked a 44-billion baht budget for the HIV/AIDS prevention plans from 2012-2016, and set the target of no more than 4,900 new AIDS patients by 2016.
According to the minister, around 10,000 new patients have been found and that over 480,000 AIDS patients still alive in Thailand in 2011. 30-40% of AIDS patients are drug addicts who share needles.
