One In Eight Thai Ladyboys HIV+

[Pdoggg]

HIV prevalence among transgender women in Thailand is 12.7 per cent. Stands to reason the rate is even  higher for sex workers.

 

 

 

NETWORK OFFERS FRIENDSHIP, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO AT-RISK COMMUNITY IN PATTAYA

 

The sun is starting to dip low over the horizon as Prayune Sawangnam steps into the Sisters Foundation's brightly decorated offices.

 

The non-profit organisation provides health, education and support services to the transgender community in Pattaya. Prayune, with her neat bun and long flowing dress, is treated respectfully by other transgender women who have gathered. 

 

"Prayune is a 'Mama', an important leader in the transgender community whom other members view as a mother. She is someone other TGs go to for advice," said foundation director Thitiyanun "Doi" Nakpor-Doi.

 

Today, Prayune comes to give a lesson on healthy cooking, which is a spicy chicken noodle salad. "I come to Sisters because it's a friendly place where I can meet friends and share experiences," she said. The cooking lesson is part of the foundation's regular Friday night activities and it is followed by an interactive talk on sexual health by Doi. 

 

"We link up with transgender leaders and host these activities, mixing fun, friendship and health awareness regularly. These non-threatening sessions initially attract community members, who are reluctant to go to clinics," Doi said. The foundation also offered health services including hormone replacement therapy counselling, HIV counselling and testing.

 

In the popular resort city of Pattaya, with its booming nightlife and a centre for transgender activity in Thailand, transgender women often work in the entertainment industry as waitresses, hostesses, performers and sex workers. UNAids new Country Snapshot of Thailand finds HIV prevalence among transgender women was 12.7 per cent based on epidemiological surveys at five sites in 2014. 

 

UNAids finds transgender women are 49 times more likely to acquire HIV than adults of reproductive age.

 

"Today, stigma and violence towards transgender people and other HIV-risked populations are the main barriers to stopping HIV," said Steve Kraus, Director of UNAids Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific. 

 

"We need to expand community-led approaches to the delivery of health services, as many find their peers less stigmatising than professionals."

 

The Sisters' programme was developed with support from the United States Agency for International Development under the US President's Emergency Fund for Aids Relief and other donors. The programme is one of a handful in the region to provide health services exclusively to transgender people in a community setting. 

 

"The programme is run by transgender people for transgender people. Most staff and volunteers are from the community," said Doi. 

 

"In the past we distributed condoms and talked about HIV, but that didn't work. Even if transgender people knew how, they weren't using condoms." 

 

Foundation staffers went to the Pattaya red-light district regularly to distribute condoms and promote HIV awareness among sex workers. Often many women they connect with on the streets visit the group for health services. 

 

Despite the risk of HIV infection, studies find only about a third know their status. "Most transgender people fear having an HIV test because they don't like needles, they are afraid of the result and they don't think they are at risk, " said Pannui Thatpaiboon, as she waited to consult with a Sisters' transgender nurse to have a blood test.

 

From its cheerful reception area to its solicitous staff, Sisters makes HIV testing as comfortable as possible. The HIV testing drop-in hours are from 1pm to 7pm Monday through Friday, convenient for clients who often work at night. 

 

Pitak Katekongkoy, a licensed transgender nurse, provides pre-counselling and a rapid HIV test, which shows results in less than an hour.

 

If a person is reactive on a first rapid test, they will undergo further confirmatory tests. Once an HIV positive result is confirmed, a member of the foundation team will accompany the person to a local health facility for HIV treatment. In this way, the foundation is helping to link transgender people with established health systems, which they often resist visiting.

 

The foundation has expanded from 250 clients in 2006 to over 500 in 2014. In that year, it conducted over 500 rapid HIV tests with nearly 50 people testing positive. That's almost four times the number of people tested in 2009. Once a month, staffers visit Pattaya's famous cabarets, where performers are transgender people and provide outreach education and HIV testing. 

 

"I strongly believe Sisters is a good example and we need more services specifically for transgender people in the region," said Natt Kraipet, network coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Transgender Network. 

 

 

[TEXASMAC]

Scary ! And sad.

[thail678]

Really a sad fact! When you read this, I wonder that you can see more and more pornofilms where guys fucks ladyboys bareback!

Spezially one in his black t-shirt who fucks every ladyboy from Phuket to Bangkok.

[TEXASMAC]

But then add Charlie Sheen. Who can anybody trust?