Introduction

Bangkok is the fast-growing capital city of Thailand, with a population of over 10 million people. As the Thai people’s city of golden dreams, many people leave their home in the poor northeast and flock to the city in search of a better life. As they face the reality of life in Bangkok, living in over-crowded lums with no jobs, those dreams fade and many turn to drugs, sex and alcohol for comfort.

The first cases of hiv in Thailand, in the early 1980s, were amongst drug users and represented the first of four waves in the development of HIV/AIDS. Following this, the problem of HIV/AIDS also started to invade the prison communities of Thailand as the drug users were arrested and imprisoned. As infected prisoners were released back into society, so brothels were infected. From there, family units throughout Thailand were infected; this final wave became apparent in the early 90’s.

At that time a government report was produced on the impact of AIDS on families in Thailand and it was to this that the British charity, Christian Outreach, wanted to respond. With their initial support, Somsak Wiangyangkung, the former director of Siam-Care, started the project in 1991.

The vision of the project was to address the problems of HIV and AIDS in a practical way. Consequently, the first Home Based Care project in Bangkok was launched. The aim was to help HIV affected families and communities face the problems and take care of each other, rather than relying on outsiders. In working with those of a lower socio-economic background, Siam-Care seeks to build long term relationships in order to guide, help and stand by families throughout difficult times.

As Siam-Care rapidly realised, many if those who are living in the slums of Bangkok and are affected by extreme poverty and hiv are migrant workers. Most of these had come from the northeast so it was decided that the work should spread to this area of the country.

Siam-Care is now represented in many countries around the world, including Japan and the USA. It is a registered as a non-governmental organisation in the UK and the Netherlands and as a foundation in Thailand.