  ACDI/CIDA
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** PRESS RELEASE ** Thailand-Africa **************** Today (22 June 2005), H.E. Mr. Preecha Laohapongchana, Deputy Foreign Minister
of Thailand, opens a three-day HIV/AIDS Workshop at the United Nations Conference
Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The Workshop, which is jointly organized by the Royal
Thai Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims at
forging closer partnerships between Thailand and Africa in tackling the spread
of HIV/AIDS through comprehensive responses to prevention and care. The Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (Department of International Organizations and Thailand International
Development Agency) and the Ministry of Public Health coordinate the initiative
on behalf of the Royal Thai Government. The Workshop also reflects a commitment of Thailand to work with countries, international organizations and civil society in advancing the cause of human security in the world. Africa is where effects of HIV/AIDS, as a source of human insecurity, are being felt the most. At present, there are approximately 39.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world and 25.4 million of them or two-thirds are in Africa. It is estimated that by 2010, there will be as many as 71 million Africans who will lose their lives because of HIV/AIDS, if there are no concerted efforts to effectively arrest the trend in the coming years. In cognizance of the devastating impacts that the epidemic will have on Africa
and the world as a whole, Thailand, as the present Chair of the Human Security
Network (HSN), has made the mobilization of international partnerships to address
the multi-faceted challenges of HIV/AIDS a cornerstone of her Chairmanship.
During the three-day workshop, from 22-24 June 2005, participants will exchange views and lessons learned on a number of important challenges ranging from an overview of HIV/AIDS situations and challenges in Africa and Thailand to discussions on policies and programmes being implemented by stakeholders in the respective countries as well as by the relevant organizations. The Workshop also attaches importance to fostering a better appreciation of the significance of good coordination between policies and programmes at the national and community levels. In this connection, the format of the Workshop is designed to facilitate participatory learning on challenges and responses at both levels. For responses at the national level, topics to be discussed include programmes on anti-retroviral expansion, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and condom use. For responses at the community level, topics to be discussed include sharing of experiences on community responses, roles and participation of people living with HIV/AIDS, and response programmes concerning youth. The Workshop is expected to conclude with a set of recommendations that will pave the way forward for future cooperation between Thailand and African countries. A consultation session between Thailand and representatives of relevant UN agencies and potential partners and donor countries will be held on 24 June 2005 to map out ways and means of effectively supporting African countries to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Nairobi Workshop is the first in a series of initiatives that the Royal Thai Government is planning to implement with African countries in areas where Thailand has comparative strengths and expertise which are needed by African countries in their processes of development. The second HIV/AIDS Workshop is scheduled to be held in Pretoria, South Africa, during the last quarter of 2005 and will focus on the challenges of Sub-Saharan Africa. *************************
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