Thai and U.S. medical
researchers meet at City Hall to study why Pattaya is losing health care
workers caring to HIV and AIDS patients.
Warunya Thongrod
Thai and U.S. medical researchers plan to study why
Pattaya is losing health care workers caring to HIV and AIDS patients.
Dr. Phetsri Siriniran, head of the HIV subcommittee for the
Thailand-U.S. Centers for Disease Control Collaboration program, told a
meeting of international AIDS specialists in Pattaya Oct. 30 that the
city has seen a steady decline in the number of HIV-related health care
workers despite the high number of high-risk groups in the city.
The meeting, attended by the city medical services department, U.S. CDC,
U.S. Agency for International Development and World AIDS Project
Thailand executives, was aimed at gathering information on the city’s
high-risk groups and health care system.
The U.S. established a CDC office in Thailand 30 years ago to help
prevent new HIV infections and improve the quality of life of people
living with AIDS. Through the TUC program, the CDC works closely with
the Ministry of Public Health to develop model approaches and expand
prevention, surveillance, and care and treatment of HIV.
The technical assistance helps the ministry improve laboratory
infrastructure, strategic information, HIV care quality, outreach to gay
men and activities related to children infected with HIV. The CDC
conducts studies of HIV incidence and risk behaviors and evaluates
biomedical and behavioral interventions to prevent HIV infection.
Meeting attendees visited Banglamung Hospital where the shortage of
HIV-related health care workers was noted. The shortage has hampered
problem solving and limited access to high-risk groups, researchers
agreed.
The panel approved a motion to study Pattaya’s inefficiency in managing
the quality of service to the HIV-infected population and the poor
coverage of high-risk groups when it comes to preventative education.
