Bangkok Collaborates with the Health Ministry to Enhance HIV and STI Prevention Measures
In a bid to combat the rising HIV infections, particularly among young people, Thailand has unveiled an extensive HIV prevention campaign for 2025. The initiative, titled "Equality with Safety: HPV x Condom - Smooth or Rough, Confident and Disease-Free," was officially launched at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) in Bangkok.
The campaign, spearheaded by the AIDS and STIs Division of the MOPH's Department of Disease Control, in conjunction with the BMA and its network partners, aims to provide the public with convenient, rapid, and comprehensive access to HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, diagnosis, and care services for all target groups.
Dr Sunthorn Sunthornchart, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the BMA, welcomed participants to the launch event, emphasising the importance of the campaign in the fight against HIV and STIs. The campaign encourages individuals to use prevention methods tailored to their needs, including the correct and consistent use of condoms, supplementary measures such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV, and continued HPV vaccination.
The Ministry of Public Health has been implementing a policy to provide HPV vaccinations to Thai women aged 11-20, and has now expanded this to include female university students who haven't previously been vaccinated. HPV is a leading cause of cervical cancer, one of the most prevalent cancers among Thai women.
The collaboration aims to strengthen networks within and outside the Ministry of Public Health for STI prevention among young people. The campaign also seeks to limit new HIV infections to no more than 1,000 cases annually and reduce HIV-related deaths to fewer than 4,000 per year.
The launch event featured various educational booths from partner organisations, including automatic vending machines from Sun Vending Co., HPV vaccination points, Pride Clinic, Pao Tang App information, Stand by You service, CU Buddy Clinic, Teen Club, Proactive PrEP services, educational material on HIV/STIs/Protection, and insights from KMITL.
The Thailand HIV prevention campaign for 2025 involves several detailed initiatives and collaboration between government bodies, educational institutions, private sectors, and civil society. The Ministry of Public Health spends approximately 8.4 billion baht annually on HIV prevention and patient care, with about 1.2 billion baht allocated specifically to prevention programs.
The initiative is a significant step towards improving public health and reducing HIV infections in Thailand. The campaign's success will rely on the collaboration and commitment of various organisations, including the Ministry of Public Health, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, private companies, civil society groups, educational institutions, international partners, and health facilities.
- The initiative, titled "Equality with Safety: HPV x Condom - Smooth or Rough, Confident and Disease-Free," aims to promote mental-health and sexual-health awareness among young people by providing them with convenient access to HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, diagnosis, and care services, reinforcing the importance of cbd in maintaining overall health-and-wellness.
- In addition to the correct and consistent use of condoms, the campaign encourages individuals to adopt technology-driven measures such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV prevention, leveraging technology in the fight against HIV and STIs.
- To further expand the reach of HIV prevention efforts, the Ministry of Public Health has extended its HPV vaccination policy to include female university students who haven't previously been vaccinated, emphasizing the importance of science and education in combating cervical cancer, a prevalent illness among Thai women.
- The success of the 2025 HIV prevention campaign will depend on the collaboration and commitment of various entities, including the Ministry of Public Health, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, private sectors, civil society groups, educational institutions, international partners, and health facilities, signifying the interplay of politics, education, and health in driving positive change.
- Recognizing the importance of fitness-and-exercise in maintaining both physical and mental well-being, the launch event featured various educational booths from partner organizations, including resources on HIV/STIs/Protection, promoting an active role in personal health care and awareness.
