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Press
Release..............................
UNESCAP News Services
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7 November 2003
Information Note No: N/28/2003
UNESCAP and Thai Government signed a landmark
agreement
on a new HIV/AIDS treatment programme
Bangkok (UN Information Services) - The United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP) and Thailand's Ministry of Public Health signed a
landmark agreement on an innovative HIV/AIDS demonstration project
at the Ministry's office in Bangkok today. (7th November)
The 'Partners for Health' project involves the
Ministry of Public Health's Department of Disease Control, the
Thailand Business Coalition on AIDS (TBCA), UNESCAP, and people
living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs).
Ms. Nanda Krairiksh, Chief of the Programme Management
Division at UNESCAP, signed a Letter of Agreement with Dr. Charal
Trinvuthipong, Director General of the Ministry of Public Health,
and Ms. Ellen Devlin, Board member of TBCA and General Manager
of Nike Inc. Thailand, signifying UNESCAP's commitment to the
project.
UNESCAP will provide technical and financial support
for the project as it works towards improving access to antiretroviral
(ARV) drugs and related healthcare services for PLWHAs.
There are currently 670,000 people living with
HIV/AIDS in Thailand, but less than 4 per cent of these people
have access to ARV-treatment.
The project will also: train people living with HIV/AIDS in
income-generation skills; support them in creating an income-generating
business; and organize home-based care and psychosocial support,
among other things.
By cooperating with the Ministry of Public Health
in building a partnership with the private sector and grassroot
community groups, UNESCAP aims to contribute to strengthening
Thailand's health system. In particular the project seeks to
enable those living with HIV/AIDS to play a more active role
in contributing to quality treatment and care for other PLWHAs.
For further information please contact: Dr Jeremy
Ross, Health and Development Section, Emerging Social Issues
Division, UNESCAP, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue,
Bangkok 10200, Thailand, Tel: (66) 02 288 1485, E-mail: ross5@un.org
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