Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has remained to be an unfinished agenda in the world today as halfway through the intended period when they were to be achieved not so much has been gained. In Thailand, the people are still battling HIV and Aids, and it remains to be a pandemic that is yet to be contained. Studies indicate that of the total population of 60 million people in Thailand, around 440, 000 were living with HIV and Aids by the year 2013 (Fordham, 2015). Further, about 18,000 people had succumbed to the disease in that year alone (Fordham, 2015). And those are only the reported cases because it is further believed that some die in silence for fear of coming out and being stigmatized. That puts Thailand on the map in a region with a high number of people living with the disease because Asia and the Pacific lie behind Sub- Sahara Africa (Pawa et al. 2013). But also, there has been significant success in combating this ailment because there have been interventions propagated by the government and non- governmental organizations (Herman, 2014, Moniruzzamann, 2015).
There have been spirited efforts to abide by the third SDG, which calls for a healthy living and the promotion of the well- being of all people regardless of their ages. According to the third target, the expectations are that “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases” (Fordham, 2015). This remains to be achieved in Thailand as the country still struggles to stay focused on that agenda as it tries to strengthen its health system to achieve this goal. There are factors that have contributed to the failure or making strides in achieving a healthier nation that can contain this pandemic. These factors are historical, social and structural in nature. Even so, there has been tremendous progress in this fight with the help of all the stakeholders the issue has been dealt with properly even though so much is yet to be seen in the coming years before hitting the 20130 mark.
Definition of Key Terms
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The agenda by the United Nations that is expected to help transform the world through the aid of sustainable development issues that cut across many countries
HIV and Aids – It is a virus that attacks the immune system and renders the human body weak thus exposing it to diseases.
Historical factors
The first case of HIV and Aids was first reported in Thailand in 1984. And the incidents of infection have been on the rise since then (Castello, Diaz & Hernandez, 2010). There have been coordinated efforts countrywide that have helped deal with the problem. Government as well as non- governmental organizations have worked together to ensure that high-risk groups are facilitated adequately. For instance, after the first case was identified, public health officials moved in to conduct a survey on possible infections among high-risk groups such as sex workers and drug users (Ngamvithayaponga & Diwan, 2000). Legislative and administrative decisions have been made by the government over the years to diversify on ways of handling the disease (Liamputtong, 2013). In the beginning, the Division of Epidemiology in the Ministry of Health could document all the infected cases (Churcher, 2013). By 1989, the national HIV Serosurveillance program was established, and it was tasked with the monitoring of the progression of the disease (Punpanich, Ungchusak & Detels, 2004).As the 21st century set in, treatment a lot of effort was put in teaching the Thai society on the importance of prevention of the disease. Much is being done through the safe sex and Condom Movements to help sensitize the Thai society on the importance of practicing safe sex (Dhanatya, 2008).
Cultural factors
Cultural factors affecting the spread and containing of HIV and Aids in Thailand stem from the people’s lifestyles, traditions, and beliefs. The disease is one that people would rather they talked about it in low tones; many are not coming out to seek help out of fear of victimization and thus access to antiretroviral medicine is limited to a select few (Knodel & United Nations, 2010).
The period leading up to the 1980s saw a lot of migration from rural to urban centers. For instance, the city of Chiang Mai grew; many people were attracted to its vitality. Sadly many of those who moved to these cities never found jobs, and that prompted the spread of prostitution especially in slum areas (Fordham, 2015). Availability of cheap dormitories and brothels made the situation even worse, and the disease found its way and spread so fast (ʻImʻēm, 1999, Irwin, Millen & Fallows, 2003). Just like in many other societies sexual promiscuity is high and premarital sex is rampant (Fowler, 2012). Studies conducted by WHO in the country showed that many people do not seek medical intervention because they fear that health workers will disclose their status to their communities. That is the reason many of them keep off the medicine. But efforts are being made by government and non- governmental organization counter this situation.
Structural factors
The containment of HIV and its spread has always pegged on behavioral change (Fordham, 2015). But it is true that it is not easy for a person to change a habit that is deeply ingrained in them. Normally prevention measures have been theorized thereby lacking a practical perspective that might be of help. Also, it is always stressed that people use preventive measures, but importance has not been given to situations when these protective or preventive measures are not employed (Dhanatya, 2008). But it is good to give credit where it is due. High order social constructions such as living standards and locations where people are living in have been given a lot of importance because low-income areas have been targeted, and most of the preventive measures have been promoted there (Churcher, 2013).
Critical Analysis
Thailand has given substantial time and resources towards projects that address the problem of HIV and Aids. The good news is that the infection rates are dropping, but the results are not as good as it could have been expected. The government initiated school programs that required that child be taught about the disease (Punpanich, Ungchusak & Detels, 2004), and there have been other programs targeting the youth as well as the older generation. Before the antiretroviral drugs were established the treatment of opportunistic diseases was given a lot of importance and today a lot of medical research has been done within the country as a way of finding lasting solutions. But cultural and structural factors remain an impediment to addressing this issue.
Summary and Brief Statement
There have been spirited efforts by Past governments and other agencies to deal with the HIV pandemic in Thailand, but much needs to be seen in as far as a total containment of the disease is concerned. The essay talks about the historical, cultural and structural challenges that have been there in the past. Even so, there a few successes that have been achieved and that in turn give a ray of hope that perhaps the SDG on this disease is achievable by 2030.
Success Story
The advocating of the use of condoms has yielded good returns because many Thais and especially male and female commercial sex workers have taken the initiative to use them and that has led to the drop in the spread of HIV and Aids among them. According to the infection rates have dropped from 16% to 13% in the last two years.
Implications of Professional Practice
Professional health workers have been accused of sharing confidential information of their patients with members of their communities. That has led to many of the HIV and Aids patients to shy away from disclosing their condition and seeking medical care. Many victims are suffering in silence out of fear of victimization.
It is sad that some Thais have chosen to remain ignorant; many are being infected while others are being re- infected because they do not want to seek information about their risk and exposure to the disease. Thailand remains as one of the few countries that have Strain A, and Strain B of the HIV and the combination of the two has more serious health problems on individuals who are carriers (Liamputtong, 2013). But the good thing is that the government still conducts free checkup and counseling exercises, and patients are often encouraged to seek medical attention.
If the trend of sensitization and free treatment of patients goes on, the disease might be contained, and this SDG will be achieved in 2030. Also, if citizens take the sensitization exercises seriously, there is a high likelihood that they will benefit from the information they receive and will use it for their good in the effort of preventing the spread of the disease.
Conclusion
The future of Thailand looks bright in as far as the containment of HIV and Aids is concerned. Combating stigmatization through different sensitization programs is a viable idea. With the support of government agencies, the goal is achievable. What remains to be seen is the positivity of the people themselves in supporting efforts channeled towards this problem. That is especially important considering the cultural and structural impediments that have been there for a long time (Pawa et al. 2013). It remains the effort of everyone to ensure that HIV and Aids are kicked out of Thailand by the year 2030.
References
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http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Health-For-All-Report.pdf
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