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Thailand

Articles by Thailand

hiv-test

IPPF marks World AIDS Day by announcing the launch of a special program to roll out new biomedical HIV prevention methods

IPPF provides comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care to clients around the world. HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services are essential parts of our integrated sexual and reproductive health care package. To expand the choices individuals have to protect themselves from HIV, IPPF is excited to announce a special program to provide the newest methods of HIV prevention - injectable PrEP (a 2-monthly injection of cabotegravir-LA) and the vaginal ring (a monthly vaginal ring of dapivirine), as well as expanding where oral PrEP is offered. This program is being launched through a consortium of IPPF Member Associations called the Consortium to Advance Access to new HIV Prevention Products (CAAPP) - led by Family Planning Association of India, and including the Family Life Association of Eswatini, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, Family Planning Association of Malawi, Federation of Reproductive Health Associations, Malaysia, Family Planning Association of Nepal, and Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand. We hope this program will increase access to the number of ways people can protect themselves from HIV, supporting individual's choice to find an HIV prevention method that works for them.

IPPFタイでボランティア活動をするジヘ・ホンさん

"We visit them in their real lives, because they may not have time to go to clinics to check their status"

  Few people are at higher risk of HIV infection or STIs than sex workers. Although sex work is illegal in Thailand, like in so many countries many turn a blind eye. JiHye Hong is a volunteer with PPAT, the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand, and she works with the HIV and STIs prevention team in and around Bangkok. One month into her volunteer project, she has already been out on 17 visits to women who work in high risk entertainment centres. “They can be a target group,” explains JiHye. “Some of them can’t speak Thai, and they don’t have Thai ID cards. They are young.” The HIV and STIs prevention team is part of PPAT’s Sexual and Reproductive Health department in Bangkok. It works with many partners in the city, including secondary schools and MSM (men who have sex with men) groups, as well as the owners of entertainment businesses. They go out to them on door-to-door visits. “We visit them in their real lives, because they may not have time to go to clinics to check their status,” says JiHye. “Usually we spend about an hour for educational sessions, and then we do activities together to check if they’ve understood. It’s the part we can all do together and enjoy.” The team JiHye works with takes a large picture book with them on their visits, one full of descriptions of symptoms and signs of STIs, including graphic images that show real cases of the results of HIV/AIDs and STIs. It’s a very clear way of make sure everyone understands the impact of STIs. Reaction to page titles and pictures which include “Syphilis” “Gonorrhoea” “Genital Herpes” and “Vaginal Candidiasis” are what you might expect. “They are often quite shocked, especially young people. They ask a lot of questions and share concerns,” says JiHye. The books and leaflets used by the PPAT team don’t just shock though. They also explain issues such as sexuality and sexual orientations too, to raise awareness and help those taking part in a session understand about diversity and equality. After the education sessions, tests are offered for HIV and/or Syphilis on the spot to anyone who wants one. For Thai nationals, up to two HIV tests a year are free, funded by the Thai Government. An HIV test after that is 140 Thai Baht or about four US Dollars. A test for Syphilis costs 50 Bhat. “An HIV rapid test takes less than 30 minutes to produce a result which is about 99% accurate,” says JiHye. The nurse will also take blood samples back to the lab for even more accurate testing, which takes two to three days.” At the same time, the groups are also given advice on how it use condoms correctly, with a model penis for demonstration, and small PPAT gift bags are handed out, containing condoms, a card with the phone numbers for PPATs clinics and a small carry case JiHye, who is from South Korea originally, is a graduate in public health at Tulane University, New Orleans. That inspired her to volunteer for work with PPAT. “I’ve really learned that people around the world are the same and equal, and a right to access to health services should be universal for all, regardless of ages, gender, sexual orientations, nationality, religions, and jobs.”

IPPFアジア太平洋拠点事務所の開所式の様子

IPPF’s new Asia Pacific Hub officially opens

IPPF opened its Asia Pacific Hub in Bangkok on 29 March 2017, creating the biggest sexual and reproductive health and rights organization in Asia Pacific. The IPPF Hub is comprised of the East and South East Asia and Oceania Region (ESEAOR), the South Asia Region (SAR), and the new IPPF Humanitarian Hub. It will be co-located with our national Member Association, the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand. PPAT supports the National Family Planning Programme by organizing countrywide educational and motivational activities, and by delivering contraceptive services to special target groups/geographic areas. These include slum dwellers, the population along the Thai-Cambodia border, northern hill tribes and the Muslim community in Thailand's four southern-most provinces. With this move IPPF is bringing its two regional offices and its new humanitarian hub closer to its international human development partners, further increasing access for IPPF’s member associations in 34 countries to high-standard and state of the art knowledge on sexual and reproductive health programming. As Bangkok is the leading hub in the Asia Pacific for regional humanitarian and development bodies and networks, location here will maximise opportunities for external collaboration and developing partnerships. It also provides IPPF with greater scope to explore collaboration with regional bodies and other international networks as well as with the Thai government. The Asia Pacific region is home to more than half of the global population and to the poorest of the poor and least developed countries. The region is also home to highly developed countries like Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The majority of countries which are most at risk to natural and man-made disasters can be found in the region. With one master stroke, IPPF seeks to bring together the expertise from its three independent units under one roof. This will maximize the scope for ESEAOR, SAR, and the IPPF Humanitarian Hub collaboration, bringing to our beneficiaries culturally relevant, cost-effective, and gender sensitive SRHR programming. IPPF is the largest enabler and provider of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) services and information globally. With 142 member associations and presence in 170 countries, IPPF is able to provide SRHR access to the most vulnerable and least served women, men, and youths around the world. Taking on the challenge brought about by climate change and unstable socio-political and economic conditions, IPPF further expands its coverage by addressing the SRHR needs of populations in crisis situations.

Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand

The Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT) Under the Patronage of HRH the Princess Mother has been in operations for more than 50 years. The primary aim of PPAT is to support people living in Thailand, of all ages, to have access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for their better quality of life.  PPAT operations include family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, and increasing the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services to groups who are challenged to have access to SRHR.   

We strive to adapt to the changes in society, such as reproductive health operations for children and young people, the elderly development for the transition to the aging society, and the maternity promotion in the period of low birth rate which affected the population equilibrium.  

Our work compliments and supports government policies.  We collaborate with the public and government sectors to bring about change in society. PPAT has initiated and developed several creative methods and social innovations that change and improve society in many ways. All of this helps the people including people living in hard-to-reach areas to be able to access appropriate and friendly reproductive health services. 

We currently operate through 47 service delivery points in both urban and rural areas to provide SRHR services to people with average 179,004 clients every year. These include 10 permanent clinics and 12 mobile units, and a network of community-based distributors/community-based services (CBDs/CBSs).  

With more challenges awaiting in the future, PPAT considers human rights, human dignity, and diversity of ideas, beliefs, and identities in creating programs which will bring about change in society and improve the quality of life for those living in Thailand. These programs combined with other sectors, will impact Thailand’s growth and access to SRHR health services. 

hiv-test

IPPF marks World AIDS Day by announcing the launch of a special program to roll out new biomedical HIV prevention methods

IPPF provides comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care to clients around the world. HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services are essential parts of our integrated sexual and reproductive health care package. To expand the choices individuals have to protect themselves from HIV, IPPF is excited to announce a special program to provide the newest methods of HIV prevention - injectable PrEP (a 2-monthly injection of cabotegravir-LA) and the vaginal ring (a monthly vaginal ring of dapivirine), as well as expanding where oral PrEP is offered. This program is being launched through a consortium of IPPF Member Associations called the Consortium to Advance Access to new HIV Prevention Products (CAAPP) - led by Family Planning Association of India, and including the Family Life Association of Eswatini, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, Family Planning Association of Malawi, Federation of Reproductive Health Associations, Malaysia, Family Planning Association of Nepal, and Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand. We hope this program will increase access to the number of ways people can protect themselves from HIV, supporting individual's choice to find an HIV prevention method that works for them.

IPPFタイでボランティア活動をするジヘ・ホンさん

"We visit them in their real lives, because they may not have time to go to clinics to check their status"

  Few people are at higher risk of HIV infection or STIs than sex workers. Although sex work is illegal in Thailand, like in so many countries many turn a blind eye. JiHye Hong is a volunteer with PPAT, the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand, and she works with the HIV and STIs prevention team in and around Bangkok. One month into her volunteer project, she has already been out on 17 visits to women who work in high risk entertainment centres. “They can be a target group,” explains JiHye. “Some of them can’t speak Thai, and they don’t have Thai ID cards. They are young.” The HIV and STIs prevention team is part of PPAT’s Sexual and Reproductive Health department in Bangkok. It works with many partners in the city, including secondary schools and MSM (men who have sex with men) groups, as well as the owners of entertainment businesses. They go out to them on door-to-door visits. “We visit them in their real lives, because they may not have time to go to clinics to check their status,” says JiHye. “Usually we spend about an hour for educational sessions, and then we do activities together to check if they’ve understood. It’s the part we can all do together and enjoy.” The team JiHye works with takes a large picture book with them on their visits, one full of descriptions of symptoms and signs of STIs, including graphic images that show real cases of the results of HIV/AIDs and STIs. It’s a very clear way of make sure everyone understands the impact of STIs. Reaction to page titles and pictures which include “Syphilis” “Gonorrhoea” “Genital Herpes” and “Vaginal Candidiasis” are what you might expect. “They are often quite shocked, especially young people. They ask a lot of questions and share concerns,” says JiHye. The books and leaflets used by the PPAT team don’t just shock though. They also explain issues such as sexuality and sexual orientations too, to raise awareness and help those taking part in a session understand about diversity and equality. After the education sessions, tests are offered for HIV and/or Syphilis on the spot to anyone who wants one. For Thai nationals, up to two HIV tests a year are free, funded by the Thai Government. An HIV test after that is 140 Thai Baht or about four US Dollars. A test for Syphilis costs 50 Bhat. “An HIV rapid test takes less than 30 minutes to produce a result which is about 99% accurate,” says JiHye. The nurse will also take blood samples back to the lab for even more accurate testing, which takes two to three days.” At the same time, the groups are also given advice on how it use condoms correctly, with a model penis for demonstration, and small PPAT gift bags are handed out, containing condoms, a card with the phone numbers for PPATs clinics and a small carry case JiHye, who is from South Korea originally, is a graduate in public health at Tulane University, New Orleans. That inspired her to volunteer for work with PPAT. “I’ve really learned that people around the world are the same and equal, and a right to access to health services should be universal for all, regardless of ages, gender, sexual orientations, nationality, religions, and jobs.”

IPPFアジア太平洋拠点事務所の開所式の様子

IPPF’s new Asia Pacific Hub officially opens

IPPF opened its Asia Pacific Hub in Bangkok on 29 March 2017, creating the biggest sexual and reproductive health and rights organization in Asia Pacific. The IPPF Hub is comprised of the East and South East Asia and Oceania Region (ESEAOR), the South Asia Region (SAR), and the new IPPF Humanitarian Hub. It will be co-located with our national Member Association, the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand. PPAT supports the National Family Planning Programme by organizing countrywide educational and motivational activities, and by delivering contraceptive services to special target groups/geographic areas. These include slum dwellers, the population along the Thai-Cambodia border, northern hill tribes and the Muslim community in Thailand's four southern-most provinces. With this move IPPF is bringing its two regional offices and its new humanitarian hub closer to its international human development partners, further increasing access for IPPF’s member associations in 34 countries to high-standard and state of the art knowledge on sexual and reproductive health programming. As Bangkok is the leading hub in the Asia Pacific for regional humanitarian and development bodies and networks, location here will maximise opportunities for external collaboration and developing partnerships. It also provides IPPF with greater scope to explore collaboration with regional bodies and other international networks as well as with the Thai government. The Asia Pacific region is home to more than half of the global population and to the poorest of the poor and least developed countries. The region is also home to highly developed countries like Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The majority of countries which are most at risk to natural and man-made disasters can be found in the region. With one master stroke, IPPF seeks to bring together the expertise from its three independent units under one roof. This will maximize the scope for ESEAOR, SAR, and the IPPF Humanitarian Hub collaboration, bringing to our beneficiaries culturally relevant, cost-effective, and gender sensitive SRHR programming. IPPF is the largest enabler and provider of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) services and information globally. With 142 member associations and presence in 170 countries, IPPF is able to provide SRHR access to the most vulnerable and least served women, men, and youths around the world. Taking on the challenge brought about by climate change and unstable socio-political and economic conditions, IPPF further expands its coverage by addressing the SRHR needs of populations in crisis situations.

Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand

The Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT) Under the Patronage of HRH the Princess Mother has been in operations for more than 50 years. The primary aim of PPAT is to support people living in Thailand, of all ages, to have access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for their better quality of life.  PPAT operations include family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, and increasing the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services to groups who are challenged to have access to SRHR.   

We strive to adapt to the changes in society, such as reproductive health operations for children and young people, the elderly development for the transition to the aging society, and the maternity promotion in the period of low birth rate which affected the population equilibrium.  

Our work compliments and supports government policies.  We collaborate with the public and government sectors to bring about change in society. PPAT has initiated and developed several creative methods and social innovations that change and improve society in many ways. All of this helps the people including people living in hard-to-reach areas to be able to access appropriate and friendly reproductive health services. 

We currently operate through 47 service delivery points in both urban and rural areas to provide SRHR services to people with average 179,004 clients every year. These include 10 permanent clinics and 12 mobile units, and a network of community-based distributors/community-based services (CBDs/CBSs).  

With more challenges awaiting in the future, PPAT considers human rights, human dignity, and diversity of ideas, beliefs, and identities in creating programs which will bring about change in society and improve the quality of life for those living in Thailand. These programs combined with other sectors, will impact Thailand’s growth and access to SRHR health services.