| Abstract: | ![]()
Within the space of a decade, the level of HIV infection in Thailand has grown to epidemic proportions. With regard to children, 16,000 had been born with HIV by the end of 1994, while tens of thousands of child prostitutes and street children are at risk of infection. By the year 2000, more than one million Thai children will have at least one HIV-infected parent. Many of these children will therefore become either orphans or abandoned by their infected parents. The magnitude of these problems over the course of the lives of HIV-affected children depends heavily upon actions taken now. This paper summarizes the joint report of the Thai Red Cross Society and the East-West Center's Program on Population on the impact of HIV on children in Thailand. The current situation, projected impacts, and policy recommendations are described. No other country has had as complete a monitoring system or as early a warning of the problems ahead. Some recommended approaches are familiar and simply need to be strengthened and expanded to the regional or national level, while others require field testing. The authors stress the need for shared commitment, ideas, resources, and efforts of all sectors of society to plan for the future needs of children affected by HIV, to protect them from infection, and to provide them with the social and economic support, medical treatment, and legal protection they need. |
