A Decade of the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre

NIV/AIDS P v i or
I stitutionalised services are important in the treatment of persons with symptomatic HIV or AIDS. We see that the burden that
will be placed on the health care system will be too heavy to bear and that institutionalised care does not necessarily mean
quality care. Therefore we have developed a curriculum and manual to work with both families and communities in building
a warm and compassionate living environment and on how to care for a family member with AIDS at home.
The HIV/AIDS Prevention for Slum Communities Section is under the administration of the Thai Red Cross AIDS
Research Centre, Thai Red Cross Society and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration with support from Redd Barna (The
Norwegian Save the Children Fund).
The Project has several objectives. It aims to promote awareness on the spread of AIDS and how the disease is not
transmitted through every day activities. It also seeks to educate people on how the spread of AIDS can be prevented. The
Project seeks to mobilise the necessary psychological, social and economic support to enable persons with HIV/AIDS to live in
their normal family and community without discrimination. This will be achieved in part by the education outlined above, but also
by providing the target population with an understanding of care, life skills and provision of basic counselling skills and
treatment services for persons with HIV/AIDS. The Project also works closely with other organisations and agencies that
provide assistance on AIDS related issues. By co-ordinating and exchanging data and information, the general public and we
have a greater knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
The following are strategies as derived from the experiences of the project staff for gaining access to and an
understanding of the living conditions and situation of slum community residents and for emphasising the importance of group
participation in HIV/AIDS campaign activities as important requisites for carrying out project efforts:

4.Home visits. Hold general conversations
with the community residents
4 Distribute brochures, hang posters and
introduce moderate levels of information
with the community residents
4 'Show slides, videos and arrange small
group discussions with interested target
groups in the community.
S 4 Arrange community theatre and puppet
shows together with question and
answer games supplement information
in the community.. Hold seminars for the youth, fathers and
mothers groups.
4 Arrange HIV/AIDS information camps for
the children.. Organise exhibitions on AIDS in the
community. Provide counselling and testing services
Sin the community through the mobile
anonymous clinic.
4 Arrange field trips and seminars on the
care of persons with HIV/AIDS in the
family and in community.
4 Support target groups in the
dissemination of HIV/AIDS information
L o, to family and community members.

THE THAI RED CROSS AIDS RESEARCH CENTRE 2002 11