'Condom King' Fights AIDS in Thailand
B A N G K O K, Thailand, July 13 -- Two decades ago, when the world was just beginning to learn about AIDS and most developing nations were trying their best to ignore it, an activist took to the streets of Thailand, a basket of condoms in hand, to spread the message that there were ways to fight this lethal virus.
His name was Meechai Viravaidya, a Thai senator who came to be known as the "Condom King." Meechai began a crusade, handing out condoms in Bangkok's notorious Patpong red-light district.
From the streets, to the bars, to the brothels, wherever you looked, there was the Condom King, handing out prophylactics and advice to anyone who would listen. He tried to break the taboo surrounding AIDS from the very start, by making his education campaign fun.
To fight AIDS, he said, all you need is a simple formula:
"Public education, prevention, and the condom. There's nothing better … Let the people understand, and if people want to take risks, and most people do, protect yourself. Use a helmet when you drive a motorbike, use a seat belt when you drive a car, use a condom when you have sex."
National Campaign Set Early Example
Meechai's crusade helped launch a national AIDS campaign that approached the disease with commitment and compassion, providing a powerful example for the world to follow. The results were tangible. "We were able to reduce new infections by about 77 percent," he said. "That was really quite a landmark."
Every segment of Thai society played a role in AIDS prevention. Everyone was involved — from the medical community to teachers, to monks, to prostitutes and drug addicts. The government committed funds for research and backed private organizations that attempted to spread the word about how to stop AIDS. Even the powerful Thai military pitched in, running voluntary blood tests for soldiers.
But it wasn't enough. Despite the time, effort and money Thailand spent to catch AIDS early, the virus continued to spread.
It is now the leading cause of death in the country, surpassing accidents, heart disease and cancer.
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