NGO Forum news
Monthly NGO Forum invitations and press releases.
Update on TB situation in Thailand and around the world and launch of new project in northern Thailand
"For an officer, to help a TB patient recover from the disease is an enchanting experience" said Ms. Nipaporn Ouppinjai, TB and AIDS unit leader, Chiang Dao Hospital, at November's monthly NGO forum, Update on TB situation in Thailand and around the world and launch of new project in northern Thailand - 'TB Photovoice'.
National health scheme: For the people or political gain?
"Over a month after the coup in Thailand, there is growing concern that the new administration is trying to eradicate any inherited populist projects from the previous government. But we have to understand that not all of these projects were conceived by the previous government, like for example, the national health scheme. Therefore, [Thai Rak Thai] cannot claim this policy for their own political leverage." said Khun Sureerat Treemanka, a member of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC) speaking during the October NGO forum.
Co-organised by Health & Development Networks (HDN) and the Northern NGO Coalition on AIDS (NCCA), the topic for this month's forum was 'National health scheme: For the people or political gain?'
Community radio: promoting better understanding between PLHIV and the community
"You can run a community radio station for years without going broke, but once you want to make profits from it, it won't work out" said Ajahn Paisan Philokham, a presenter for Maewang Lowland Community Radio (MLCR) speaking during the September NGO Forum co-organised by Health and Development Networks (HDN) and the Northern NGO Coalition on AIDS (NNCA).
Community radio is a medium of the people. It is owned and managed by the community, which participates on a voluntary basis for the benefit of the community itself. Nowadays, many community radio stations feature programmes on people living with HIV (PLHIV) and have HIV positive broadcasters. Community radio is seen as a medium through which PLHIV can express their problems and needs to society, to foster understanding, acceptance and to forge good community relations.
Reflecting on our work with children to plan for the future
The problems facing children who have contracted HIV or whose family life has been affected by HIV are many. Not only do the children have to come to terms with the infection but they may also face continued discrimination and social exclusion from their community and family. For those children who live on the streets of Chiang Mai the risk of contracting HIV is greatly increased. With little or no income these children do not have access to local health care and become increasingly vulnerable to trafficking, drugs and commercial sex work.
Right to access ARVs for ethnic minority migrants
"Ethnic minority [people living with HIV] PWHIV are human beings, they have dignity and should be treated equally. They have the right to access ARVs [antiretroviral drugs]" - Anand Muangmoonchai, Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Upper North (TNPNO)
The persistent efforts of PWHIV networks have made access to treatment possible for most of those who need the drugs. They are now eligible for antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) provided under the National Health Security Office's 30 baht health security scheme. However, despite this achievement many ethnic minorities are still excluded.
Preparing for bird flu?
The June 2006 NGO Forum organised by NNCA (Northern NGO Coalition on HIV/AIDS) presented two speakers: Ms. Rajanikorn Kamlar, from the Bureau of Disease Control Region 10 in Chiang Mai and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suchon Tangtaweepat from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University. In order to increase our understanding and knowledge of avian influenza, both speakers gave us information about prevention; protecting ourselves; and also spoke about recent measures and the current situation .
Building Relationships between Halfway Houses
"They do not have human rights when they are alive. They don't even have the right to die," said Thanta Laovilawanyakul, of Live to Dream, a halfway house serving female sex workers. She explained the difficulty of accessing cremation services for marginalised people who do not have proper identification. Many of them die unacknowledged, unremembered and without a place for permanent rest.
On 30 May 2006, the monthly NGO Forum, hosted by Health and Development Networks (HDN) and the Northern NGO Coalition on AIDS (NNCA), provided a space for managers of halfway houses to discuss common challenges, needs and collaboration opportunities in providing shelter, care and support, information and services to marginalised people.
