| For almost 20 years, Thailand has been the | | | | most heavily infected area in the world. An |
| focus of an intensive effort to stop the | | | | estimated 25.8 million people had been |
| spread of HIV/Aids among the population of | | | | infected by HIV at the end of 2005 and |
| approximately 65 million.A survey in 1988 | | | | approximately 3.1 million new infections |
| found that 44% of sex workers in Chiang Mai | | | | occurred during last year.Apart from |
| in northern Thailand were already infected | | | | abstaining from sexual contact altogether, |
| with HIV. But it was not until 1991 that the | | | | the use of condoms is the only effective |
| government got serious in its efforts to curb | | | | means to help prevent the spread of HIV/Aids |
| the spread of the infection.Eventually | | | | and other sexually transmitted |
| greatly increased budgets led to a massive | | | | diseases.Donation of condoms condemned by |
| public information campaign on the dangers of | | | | Nigerian ArchbishopIn an announcement that |
| AIDS. The government also introduced a "100 | | | | underscores the debate taking place in many |
| percent condom program" in which condoms were | | | | countries over tactics being used to fight |
| distributed free to brothels and massage | | | | the spread of HIV/AIDS, a leading Thai |
| parlours, and sex workers were required to | | | | Catholic Archbishop voiced strong opposition |
| use them. Brothels that did not comply were | | | | to ongoing distribution of condoms.In spite |
| closed.As a result of these and other | | | | of its endorsement by the U.N. the condom |
| programs, the number of new HIV infections | | | | donation annouced by the Thai government has |
| was reduced from 140,000 in 1991 to 21,000 in | | | | been vigorously condemned by Nigerian |
| 2003. Still, 1% of the 65 million people in | | | | Archbishop Anthony Cardinal Okogie. He |
| Thailand are infected with HIV, and AIDS has | | | | described the move as immoral and quite |
| become the leading cause of death.It is | | | | likely to promote irresponsible sex and |
| projected that more than 50,000 Thais will | | | | promiscuity.In a press release he said, "Do |
| die each year from Aids-related causes, at | | | | they know the effect of the production to the |
| least until the end of 2006. More than 90% of | | | | youths and the nation? The government should |
| these deaths will be young people aged | | | | fight poverty, hunger, sicknesses, diseases, |
| 20-44.So although a concerted effort has been | | | | and the lack of social amenities plaguing the |
| made to stem the tide of HIV infection in | | | | nation, instead of fighting AIDS with condom |
| Thailand, the success rate has only been | | | | production," he stated.He also opposed any |
| moderate. And little has been done to stop | | | | NACA (National Action Committee on Aids) Bill |
| infection amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) | | | | before the Nigerian National Assembly that |
| who share needles.Most new infections still | | | | included manufacturing of condoms in Nigeria, |
| start with sex trade workers or IDUs and | | | | saying; "it will encourage immorality, sex on |
| within two years are passed on to | | | | demand, promiscuity, irresponsibility and |
| spouses.Thailand to donate 50,000 condoms to | | | | prostitution. Condom, knowingly and |
| AfricaIn a move consistent with their own | | | | intentionally, offends the ends of marriage, |
| moderate success at fighting HIV/AIDS with | | | | which is procreation and says no to the |
| condoms, the Thai government announced they | | | | bearing of children but promiscuity."It is |
| were donating 50,000 condoms to seven African | | | | unfortunate that while other embassies are |
| countries as part of their "forward | | | | promoting trade, bilateral relations, we are |
| engagement" program to help with the UN | | | | encouraging cheap money and cheap production |
| effort to fight HIV/Aids in Africa.The | | | | of condoms to encourage our youths on |
| condoms will be provided by Thailand's | | | | immorality."Rick Hendershot publishes Linknet |
| foreign and health ministries and shipped by | | | | News. See how to promote your website with |
| the United Nations Development Programme to | | | | articles and blog posts.Visit the #1 Online |
| Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Gabon, Mali, | | | | Condom Shop in the U.K. |
| Nigeria and Uganda.Sub-Saharan Africa is the | | | | |