To improve young people’s access to HIV testing and other essential health services, UNThailand launches a new mobile application. The application is a guide to young people in Thailand to help them get condoms, advice or support.
“I have a date with someone that I really like. I’m kind of nervous but I want to have some condoms ready, but I’m too shy to buy them,” says the cartoon figure in the video that was published yesterday by UNThailand.
The new iMonitor+ application helps people in Thailand to get condoms for free, HIV test or medicine. The app can also tell where to go to get legal advices and support.
“Now all Thai can have a say in improving their lives. This way we can all build the world we want,” the video ends.
The video is part of a renewed commitment on a recent meeting in Bangkok: The Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on HIV/AIDS – convened by ESCAP, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The meeting came to a close with a renewed commitment to ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.
In South and South-East Asia the number of people living with HIV is 3,900,000, according to AVERT, an international HIV and AIDS charity.
High numbers and low testing rates in Asia
The fact that more than one-third of Asians develop AIDS within a relatively short time after being diagnosed indicates that Asians may not be receiving adequate care and treatment in time to prevent them from developing AIDS.
Cultural factors may affect the risk of HIV infection. Some Asians may avoid seeking testing, counseling or treatment because of language barriers or fear of discrimination, the stigma of homosexuality, immigration issues, or fear of bringing shame to their families.
Find updates on Twitter at #IGMHIV2015 or read more about the project on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thailand.un
