Group Plans HIV/AIDS Forum on Condom Promotion, Injection Drug Users in Bangkok Before International AIDS Conference
The Health and Development Networks, a not-for-profit organization that receives official support from the Irish government, is sponsoring an HIV/AIDS forum in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss the country's successful condom promotion program and address the spread of HIV among injection drug users, Thailand's Nation reports. The number of new HIV cases attributed to sexual transmission has declined recently in Thailand, but the number of new cases among injection drug users has remained stable but may be increasing, according to the Nation. The forum is scheduled to take place before the XV International AIDS Conference, which is to be held in Bangkok July 11-16. Forum Coordinator Juthathip Chaitikul said that although Thailand has developed an effective condom promotion campaign, the country has not implemented an effective policy to reduce HIV transmission among injection drug users, the Nation reports. HDN will invite academics and others to the forum, which also will address "other global medical issues" in addition to HIV/AIDS, according to the Nation (Atcha, Nation, 6/17).
Webcasts and other coverage of the XV International AIDS Conference will be available online at kaisernetwork.org/aids2004. Kaisernetwork.org will serve as the conference's official webcaster.