This if Fridae.com:



"New anonymous and free HIV/STI clinic for Thai MSM

A new HIV/STI clinic targeting Thai men who have sex with men (MSM) has opened at the Bangkok Christian Hospital. It will provide free HIV and Sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing as well as HAV and HBV testing, HBV vaccine, syndromic evaluation for other sexually transmitted infections and CD4 count, TB evaluation and early HIV care and referral for antiretroviral and antimicrobacterial treatment for those who are HIV positive.



 

The Silom Community Clinic is open from Tuesday to Saturday 4 PM – 10 PM, Bangkok Christian Hospital, 3rd floor, Silom Road - targeting Thai men who have sex with men.  

According to a spokesman, the Silom Community Clinic was established in response to the rapid increase of HIV infection among Bangkok MSM (from 17.3 per cent in 2003 to 28.3 per cent in 2005). The clinic would later be used as a base to evaluate biomedical and behavioural interventions to prevent HIV infection in MSM (e.g., prophylactic drugs, microbicide gels or HIV vaccines).



Despite targeting general Thai MSM – estimated to number about 300,000 in Bangkok – the clinic will also provide HIV and STI testing to women, transgenders, as well as foreigners. Following the initial consultation, the clinic might however refer female patients to a women’s clinic, straight male sex workers to a male clinic and foreigners to other centres to receive more specialised care such as having native speakers when foreigners require HIV voluntary counselling and testing.



In an enquiry by Fridae, the spokesman for the project said that all records will be kept confidentially as first-timers will be asked to create their identification code through a self-registration system (in Thai, with assistance in English).



The system will produce a card which the client holds and connects them to their information such as lab results and counselling notes. No personal identifiers such as names, ID or passport numbers are required for the registration process."

 

How marvellous! I wonder how it is being funded and if it is being publicised in gay venues and to sex workers.



So much jargon and acronyms in the article.

STI = Sexually Transmitted Infections - used be STD = diseases

MSM = Men who have Sex with Men

HAV/HBV = Hepatitis A & B Virus



HIV Vaccines ? Thats sounds great. Do they exist?

antimicrobacterial? I'm off to Google to learn more.



I also note on Fridae News headings:

"A new anonymous clinic targeting Thai MSM which will provide free HIV and STI testing has opened in Bangkok. In Singapore, a gay web site has been banned while another fined. George Takei, Star Trek’s Mr Sulu has come out last week surprising fans around the world."



Mr Sulu - wow! To go where.......

  

"New anonymous and free HIV/STI clinic for Thai MSM



 Free? Sounds good if its true.But does early detection save lives? Dont people worry themselves to death if they have it? Early detection could mean taking anti virals earlier increasing the side effects of drugs,causing probs with kidneys etc.Not knowing if your HIV Pos could be sometimes better.And only taking anti virals when u get sick,but then i suppose they could say your immune system is destroyed?

There is also an Anonymous Clinic at the Red Cross Centre in Rajadamere Road going out from Silom afternoons I think 12-7pm sat 9-12am.  HIV and all test posible here. 80 baht or 200 for immediate results.  By the large water towers.  Tel: 02 2564109

Thai Red Cross

boxertravels.com

"Not knowing if your HIV Pos could be sometimes better.And only taking anti virals when u get sick,but then i suppose they could say your immune system is destroyed?"    What a comment of stupidity!



If you monitor your CD4 count after a positive result you can live a long time now with drugs, I have friends HIV+ who have been so for 10/15 years.  How many would you infect if you were positive and not know?  Your way would make you very ill probably beyond saving before you knew. Everyone actively involved in sex top or bottom should know their status on a regular basis.

boxertravels.com

Quote:

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Not knowing your status is better

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Might have known it came from VBBB, what a stupid statement.  The bottom line to that is you worry yourself for many years (and all the complications that go with worry) - only to find out that generally "everything is ok" (a bit of a bold statement I know, but that is generally the truth) - if it isn't ok, there is treatment out there that is certainly a lot better than it used to be.  Things have changed over the years, from the worst to chronic to manageable.