Muslim women leaders to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS

July 27, 2004

Bangkok - A group of local Muslim women leaders from Thailand’s three southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani are to be trained in the treatment of AIDS, and how to prevent the spread of the disease.

The training programme will focus on how to develop the quality of life of people in the South, and how to strengthen their communities, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Interior, Anucha Mokkhavesa, told TNA yesterday.

Muslim women leaders from the three southern border provinces will participate in the training programme, scheduled to take place in Bangkok on 26-30 July.

It is an additional part of the World AIDS Conference programme, held in Thailand on 11-16 July, said Mr. Anucha.

The people in Thailand’s deep South are facing an increasingly complicated social environment, and therefore, need to be better educated on how to deal with the disease, he said.

Recently, an increase in HIV cases were found in the southern region, especially among pregnant women.

HIV/AIDS is a major problem confronting the Thai society throughout the country.

It effects people’s health and ability to work.

The official government figures show that some 600,000 Thais have HIV, and about 53,000 patients die from the disease every year.

A recent UN report suggested that HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death in Thailand among people aged between 15 and 44.

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