wowpow
August 17th, 2006, 09:39
Courtesy www.stickyrice.ws (http://www.stickyrice.ws)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/wowpow/msm.jpg
MSM Responding to HIV Prevention Campaign
Fully-integrated campaign has reached tens of thousands to-date - helping raise awareness, promote safe behaviors and encourage use of targeted health services for sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS
Bangkok (June, 2006) - Thailand's "Men who have sex with men" (MSM) are responding favorably to an ongoing media campaign aimed at preventing the spread of HIV within the MSM communities. Preliminary results from the integrated "Sex Alert" campaign were released today by the Thailand Country Program of Family Health International (FHI), and showed very encouraging signs that MSM are hearing the its messages. FHI is a leader in international public health and worldwide research and service delivery programs to help improve lives and reduce the spread of HIV.
The fully-integrated campaign was launched in February in response to findings last year that pointed to a very high rate of HIV among MSM in Bangkok (28%). The eight-month campaign includes call centers, customized web sites that include online HIV and STI risk assessment, print and web banner advertisements, radio spots, an ongoing road show, an SMS messaging outreach, and public relations - all helping to raise awareness, promote safe behaviors and encourage the use of targeted health services for sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS by MSM in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Dr. Somchai Sriplienchan, Country Director FHI Thailand, said: "Response to the 'Sex Alert' campaign has been very encouraging thus far, and the participation and feedback from activities have been quite strong. We've connected with literally tens of thousands of men since February, and we're confidant that word-of-mouth communications is further helping pass along our messaging."
Encouraging Response
Since its February launch, the 'Sex Alert' campaign print advertisements have prompted more than 6,000 men to contact the USAID/FHI-supported call centers and customized websites to get more information on HIV prevention and care. These destinations are supported by the campaign's three implementing agencies, and include - RSAT (hotline: 02-235-4754-5 and www.fasiroong.org (http://www.fasiroong.org) and www.gaysexhealth.net (http://www.gaysexhealth.net)), SWING (hotline: 02-632-9501 and www.swingthailand.com (http://www.swingthailand.com)) and Mplus+ (hotline: 053-404-324, 053-404-342 and www.mplusthailand.com (http://www.mplusthailand.com)).
An ongoing road-show has made more than 130 stops at 100 different locations throughout Bangkok and Chiang Mai - visiting visible, as well as concealed locations, where MSM hang out. Nearly 15,000 men have participated in the road-show activities, each receiving a comprehensive information packet covering HIV prevention and care. The roadshow has even attracted some well-known Thai celebrities - including Rainbow Boy actor, Jackie - who felt the 'Sex Alert' campaign was a worthy cause to support and participate.
More than 20,000 safe sex kits that include condoms and lubricants donated by Thai Nippon Rubber Industry Co., the manufacturer of the One Touch brand of condoms and lubricants, have also been distributed at the roadshow.
Thirty-second radio spots ran for the entire month of February on Chiang Mai's Thai Health Promotion Foundation Radio with messaging that specifically targeted the MSM. These helped prompt an increase in both inquiries and visits to Mplus+ in Chiang Mai, according to its Dr. Surasing Visarutaratna, Project Director.
A proactive SMS outreach has also been sent out, with more than 1,000 recipients getting 'Sex Alert' campaign messages on their mobile phones.
"The responsiveness of MSM points to their appreciation for a campaign of this nature. The leading organizations actively supporting this effort - including government, non-profit and private - are truly playing a key role in helping stop the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among MSM," added Dr. Somchai.
This first-of-its-kind campaign is being supported by many of Thailand's leading experts and organizations working with MSM, including a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Public Health's (MoPH), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Thai Nippon Rubber Industry Company Limited.
Local MSM-focused organizations, including Bangkok-based Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand (RSAT) and Service Workers IN Group (SWING), and Chiang Mai-based Mplus+, have been an integral part of the campaign's implementation as the direct channels to MSM. They have each reported a significant number of new and repeat visits based on men responding to messaging they've seen from the campaign.
The 'Sex Alert' campaign will conclude in September, but according to FHI, this is merely the start of an ongoing effort that will continue in the future.
"The success of the 'Sex Alert' campaign needs to be viewed as just the beginning of a long and sustained road to success. The dedicated hotlines and websites will continue to be fully staffed and operational after September, and the momentum from this campaign is something for all participating organizations to draw from and continue to reach out to the MSM communities. With ongoing awareness and education, we'll hopefully start to reverse the trend of HIV infections among MSM," said Dr. Somchai.
"We're reaching MSM through multiple and complementary channels, and this is a great start to a very serious crisis. The more frequent contact we make with those most vulnerable to HIV, the better chance we'll have at starting to curb the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in these communities. So we need to sustain our efforts and build on the initial success of this campaign," said Dr. Sombat Thanprasertsuk, Director of Bureau of AIDS, TB and STIs.
For more information, please contact:
Onanong Pratakphiriya
Weber Shandwick
Tel: 0-2287-1000 ext 169
Mobile: 01-828-1002
E-Mail: onanong@webershandwick.com
Pattarawan Ucharatna
Family Health International (FHI/ Thailand)
Tel: 0-2263-2300
E-Mail: pattarawan@fhibkk.org
The ad reminds me of a friend who used to say " In my next life I would like to come back as a Snooker table".
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/wowpow/msm.jpg
MSM Responding to HIV Prevention Campaign
Fully-integrated campaign has reached tens of thousands to-date - helping raise awareness, promote safe behaviors and encourage use of targeted health services for sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS
Bangkok (June, 2006) - Thailand's "Men who have sex with men" (MSM) are responding favorably to an ongoing media campaign aimed at preventing the spread of HIV within the MSM communities. Preliminary results from the integrated "Sex Alert" campaign were released today by the Thailand Country Program of Family Health International (FHI), and showed very encouraging signs that MSM are hearing the its messages. FHI is a leader in international public health and worldwide research and service delivery programs to help improve lives and reduce the spread of HIV.
The fully-integrated campaign was launched in February in response to findings last year that pointed to a very high rate of HIV among MSM in Bangkok (28%). The eight-month campaign includes call centers, customized web sites that include online HIV and STI risk assessment, print and web banner advertisements, radio spots, an ongoing road show, an SMS messaging outreach, and public relations - all helping to raise awareness, promote safe behaviors and encourage the use of targeted health services for sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS by MSM in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Dr. Somchai Sriplienchan, Country Director FHI Thailand, said: "Response to the 'Sex Alert' campaign has been very encouraging thus far, and the participation and feedback from activities have been quite strong. We've connected with literally tens of thousands of men since February, and we're confidant that word-of-mouth communications is further helping pass along our messaging."
Encouraging Response
Since its February launch, the 'Sex Alert' campaign print advertisements have prompted more than 6,000 men to contact the USAID/FHI-supported call centers and customized websites to get more information on HIV prevention and care. These destinations are supported by the campaign's three implementing agencies, and include - RSAT (hotline: 02-235-4754-5 and www.fasiroong.org (http://www.fasiroong.org) and www.gaysexhealth.net (http://www.gaysexhealth.net)), SWING (hotline: 02-632-9501 and www.swingthailand.com (http://www.swingthailand.com)) and Mplus+ (hotline: 053-404-324, 053-404-342 and www.mplusthailand.com (http://www.mplusthailand.com)).
An ongoing road-show has made more than 130 stops at 100 different locations throughout Bangkok and Chiang Mai - visiting visible, as well as concealed locations, where MSM hang out. Nearly 15,000 men have participated in the road-show activities, each receiving a comprehensive information packet covering HIV prevention and care. The roadshow has even attracted some well-known Thai celebrities - including Rainbow Boy actor, Jackie - who felt the 'Sex Alert' campaign was a worthy cause to support and participate.
More than 20,000 safe sex kits that include condoms and lubricants donated by Thai Nippon Rubber Industry Co., the manufacturer of the One Touch brand of condoms and lubricants, have also been distributed at the roadshow.
Thirty-second radio spots ran for the entire month of February on Chiang Mai's Thai Health Promotion Foundation Radio with messaging that specifically targeted the MSM. These helped prompt an increase in both inquiries and visits to Mplus+ in Chiang Mai, according to its Dr. Surasing Visarutaratna, Project Director.
A proactive SMS outreach has also been sent out, with more than 1,000 recipients getting 'Sex Alert' campaign messages on their mobile phones.
"The responsiveness of MSM points to their appreciation for a campaign of this nature. The leading organizations actively supporting this effort - including government, non-profit and private - are truly playing a key role in helping stop the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among MSM," added Dr. Somchai.
This first-of-its-kind campaign is being supported by many of Thailand's leading experts and organizations working with MSM, including a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Public Health's (MoPH), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Thai Nippon Rubber Industry Company Limited.
Local MSM-focused organizations, including Bangkok-based Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand (RSAT) and Service Workers IN Group (SWING), and Chiang Mai-based Mplus+, have been an integral part of the campaign's implementation as the direct channels to MSM. They have each reported a significant number of new and repeat visits based on men responding to messaging they've seen from the campaign.
The 'Sex Alert' campaign will conclude in September, but according to FHI, this is merely the start of an ongoing effort that will continue in the future.
"The success of the 'Sex Alert' campaign needs to be viewed as just the beginning of a long and sustained road to success. The dedicated hotlines and websites will continue to be fully staffed and operational after September, and the momentum from this campaign is something for all participating organizations to draw from and continue to reach out to the MSM communities. With ongoing awareness and education, we'll hopefully start to reverse the trend of HIV infections among MSM," said Dr. Somchai.
"We're reaching MSM through multiple and complementary channels, and this is a great start to a very serious crisis. The more frequent contact we make with those most vulnerable to HIV, the better chance we'll have at starting to curb the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in these communities. So we need to sustain our efforts and build on the initial success of this campaign," said Dr. Sombat Thanprasertsuk, Director of Bureau of AIDS, TB and STIs.
For more information, please contact:
Onanong Pratakphiriya
Weber Shandwick
Tel: 0-2287-1000 ext 169
Mobile: 01-828-1002
E-Mail: onanong@webershandwick.com
Pattarawan Ucharatna
Family Health International (FHI/ Thailand)
Tel: 0-2263-2300
E-Mail: pattarawan@fhibkk.org
The ad reminds me of a friend who used to say " In my next life I would like to come back as a Snooker table".