These people could unknowingly pass along the virus to others, he warned, urging Thai public members to get free HIV/Aids tests from public hospitals twice yearly. Once someone knows their HIV status, they can start treatments via the universal healthcare scheme, the Social Security Office scheme or the civil servant's healthcare scheme, he said. This year's VTC theme is “Know Your Status”, which aims to ensure people access the free-and-fast HIV tests and to promote quality of life and healthcare. Thailand’s health authority is aiming to significantly reduce the number of people living with HIV and the number of HIV/Aids deaths by 2030. The DDC, using mathematical modelling, estimates there were 6,400 new HIV/Aids cases reported last year, while 18,000 people living with HIV died and about 480,000 people are now living with HIV, Suwanchai said.

Source: The Nation Bangkok July 01, 2019 09:33 UTC