Stopping discrimination against people with HIV/Aids is a key tool in reducing the spread of the disease, experts say.
People who are discriminated against may be afraid to seek treatment, a press briefing was told yesterday.
Zero discrimination is crucial for the country to achieve its aim of stopping the HIV/Aids pandemic before 2030, according to experts at the briefing.
A video by UNAIDS, the Ministry of Public Health and the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/Aids (TNP+) was launched yesterday as a tool to promote zero discrimination.
The video portrays people living with HIV/Aids who have overcome discrimination and also features a message to encourage everyone to join the zero discrimination movement.
It is set to play in 1,000 public hospitals across the country for four weeks to raise awareness about the rights of all patients to non-discriminatory treatment, the briefing was told.
"Discrimination is directly related to treatment. If HIV-infected people get discriminated against, they may be afraid to come to the hospital," said Supatra Nacapew of The foundation for Aids Rights.
One of the goals in eliminating HIV/Aids in 2030 includes cutting the number of newly infected people to less than 1,000 people a year, to decrease the death rate to fewer than 4,000 people a year and to decrease discrimination by 90%.
Ms Supatra also suggested that if existing measures are not effective enough, there should be a law to protect and support the rights of HIV-infected people.
Apiwat Kwangkaew of TNP+ said HIV-infected people often get discriminated against in workplaces or in schools.
A survey of 1,600 Thai healthcare workers showed more than 60% of workers feared HIV infection while performing routine tasks.
Deputy director-general of the Department Of Disease Control, Suthep Petchmark, said the country has been fighting HIV/Aids for more than 30 years.
Last year, Thailand was the first country in Asia to be certified free of transmission of HIV/Aids and syphilis from pregnant mothers to their newborns.