Monks Do Battle with AIDS in Thailand
The huge and increasing problem of HIV/AIDS in Thailand touches every corner of Thai society, from children in Chiang Mai to young women in Bangkok. In an effort to reach right down to the grass roots of society, Buddhist monks, assisted by UNICEF, have become a new wave of AIDS educators in Thailand.
Currently over one million Thai people are infected with HIV, and over 60,000 new cases of AIDS are reported each year. This is higher than any other Asian country. The Thai Government has been very swift and open in identifying the problem. As a result, the Royal Thai Government provides approximately 80 per cent of the funding for AIDS programs and research. It also established a National AIDS Committee to help combat the epidemic.
The Sangha Metta Project, coordinated by Australian Laurie Maund, builds on the principle that the monks have close ties and trusted relationships with the communities in which they live. The community takes care of the monks' temple, the spiritual heart of the community, and provides food and clothes to the monks in exchange for religious ceremonies, offerings and spiritual guidance.
Started in November 1998 by a group of Buddhist monks in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, the Sangha Metta Project seeks to educate monks about HIV/AIDS and through them the wider community. Trained monks also work with government to encourage local communities and their leaders to get more involved with activities surrounding HIV/AIDS. Networking by the monks helps keep new ideas and experiences circulating.
The project educates the monks to redefine their social role and to take on a more hands-on involvement to ensure the welfare of the people who make up their local community. Through study visits, provision of technical assistance and regional seminars, the project has also strengthened the response of Buddhist monks in neighbouring countries.
Sangha Metta's network of monks, novices and nuns in Thailand and the region now numbers over 800. The project, which also receives funding through the Australian Government's overseas aid program, AusAID, is a fresh UNICEF approach to AIDS education and behaviour change.
Monks are trained in all areas of intervention for people living with or affected by AIDS. In relation to youth, for example, the myth that the younger the sex worker is the “cleaner” he/she is, makes child sex workers particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. The role of the monk is not only to improve the level of awareness of these myths in the community but also to replace the myth with accurate information and offer prevention activities for youth.
Statistics suggest that the use of sex workers is the main cause for the spread of AIDS in Thailand. Reports indicate that approximately half of Thai men have their first sexual experience with a female sex worker. The monks provide counselling services and outreach activities to people working in the sex industry to encourage safe sex practices.
If we are to win the battle against the spread of HIV/AIDS, the combined actions of governments and all those in positions of influence, knowledge and power is needed to raise the alarm loudly and clearly.
Information is a powerful tool to tame the rampant spread of AIDS. In Thailand, it is one of the few tools we have. With continued awareness of the problem, hopefully the HIV/AIDS epidemic will slow its deadly pace.
Australians working in the field:
Laurie Maund, former monk and Coordinator, Sangha Metta Project - Thailand
Robert Bennoun, Regional Advisor HIV/AIDS for East Asia & Pacific