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It was not until 1984 that the first HIV/AIDS case was reported in Thailand. Previous instances were predominantly restricted to sex workers, homosexuals, drug users, and tourists, but from 1988 to 1989 HIV/AIDS began saturating an entire country. From the infected commercial sex workers and drug users, HIV/AIDS spread through the general public, affecting husbands, wives, and unborn children.
Anand Panyarachun took power in 1991 as Thailand’s Prime Minister. Among other programs aimed at fighting HIV/AIDS, Panyarachun launched a 100 percent condom initiative that provided brothels with free condoms and required client usage. Government spending for HIV/AIDS jumped from $180,000 to $44 million, and the National AIDS Program received a substantial increase in funding through 1996. At the peak of the government’s AIDS-prevention campaign, major steps were taken to raise awareness within all sects of the population.
A financial crisis in the late 90s triggered retractions in funding, with effects still hindering external support today. Much of the world perceives Thailand as a developed country and therefore offers little assistance to some of the neediest people in the world. Because the Thai government produces generic drugs, antiretroviral drugs have been offered free since 2003 to all Thai citizens. This has dramatically improved the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS, but Siam-Care is dedicated to initial prevention.
Click here (http://thebody.com) to learn more about HIV/AIDS
