Aids Day campaign targets “karaoke sex’ kids

PHUKET CITY: As part of the preparations for this year’s World Aids Day on December 1, the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) has called for a close watch to be kept on private karaoke booths in the city because the “unsuitable behavior” by some youths in the rooms is putting them at risk of contagious diseases.

The PPHO called for department stores to crack down on teenagers using the karaoke booths for illicit activities.

The PPHO will also launch an education campaign to be held in all local schools and many public buildings to mark the annual event. The same theme as last year – “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise” – will be promoted for the campaign.

Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Rattasima said, “The PPHO will cooperate with local schools and universities, local administration organizations, private and government hospitals, public health centers, and radio and television stations and other mass media to hold a public campaign presenting Aids information aimed at teaching safe sex.

“At every school, university, department store, as well as the boxing stadiums at Saphan Hin and Patong, we will distribute leaflets about how to have safe sex.”

According to figures released by the PPHO, there are about 40.3 million people infected with HIV/Aids around the world, with 1.2 million in Thailand.

Phuket has the second-highest incidence of Aids per capita in the South, and the fourth-highest in Thailand, following Ranong, Phayao and Trat provinces.

PPHO records show that 4,146 people – 2,799 males and 1,347 females – in Phuket have HIV/Aids.