The two-day meeting, which opened today (Aug 19) at the Bukitta Hotel in Phuket Town, was chaired by Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Thiraphong Chuaychu. He outlined the provincial policy to make Phuket a ‘Province of Ending AIDS’, with all agencies working together under a coordinated plan.
The workshop, organised by the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), brought together 50 participants, including members of the Phuket Provincial AIDS Subcommittee and representatives from key health and community sectors.
PPHO Deputy Chief Dr Mueanprae Bunlom said the HIV epidemic remains a major challenge for Phuket, affecting not only public health but also the local economy and society.
According to Ministry of Public Health estimates, Phuket is expected to record 6,343 HIV infections in 2025 – about 1.1% of the national total and 18.3% of all cases in Health Region 11.
“The prevalence of HIV remains high among key populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, and injecting drug users. We are also seeing a concerning upward trend among youth,” Dr Mueanprae said.
In response, Phuket has adopted a 2023-2030 strategic plan aiming to reduce new HIV infections to no more than 11 per year, limit annual AIDS-related deaths to 15, and cut HIV- and gender-related discrimination by at least 10%.
The plan will be implemented through the RRTTPR framework – Reach, Recruit, Test, Treat, Prevention and Retain – requiring close cooperation across government, health services, and community organisations, Dr Mueanprae explained.
Over the course of the workshop, participants will take part in lectures, presentations of best practices, group discussions and brainstorming sessions to set out an integrated strategy with provincial network partners.
“The goal is ambitious, but with the right coordination and commitment, Phuket can become a model province in ending AIDS by 2030,” Dr Mueanprae said.