HIV network, govt offer to help end row

THE THAI NETWORK of People Living with HIV/Aids (TNP+) – and a state health agency – say they are ready to try to resolve a conflict between a Chon Buri community and a charity organisation over a shelter for people with HIV.
The conflict took a bad turn on Friday, when members of the Lang Noen Community in tambon Nong Preu in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district voted 131 to 30 to force Glory Hut Foundation to leave the village.
“We can step in to facilitate communication between the two sides so they have mutual understanding,” TNP+ chairman Apiwat Kwangkaew said yesterday.
He said getting the foundation to relocate would not help, because similar opposition could arise in other places, especially if people continue to misunderstand HIV and how the virus is transmitted.
“The residents’ efforts to drive out the foundation only reflects their fear and misunderstanding,” Apiwat explained, adding that it was important for the Glory Hut to build effective communication channels with local people.
“Explain what the foundation is doing and what it will do next, so as to clear up any misunderstanding, to ease fear and win trust,” he advised.
Apiwat said although people realise that HIV is sexually transmitted, they can still feel afraid when communication is inadequate. “In fact, we need to talk more to change attitudes not just at community, but also national levels.”
The Disease Control Department (DCD), meanwhile, has also decided to step in and help the foundation.
DCD director general Sopon Mekthon said yesterday that officials and networks working with people living with HIV would visit the community on Sunday to look for solutions.
“This should help people become aware of the persistent discrimination against those who are HIV-positive and engage members of society in tackling this problem,” he said.
Lang Noen community chairman Wichien Weluwan said locals, in fact, had no problems with people who are HIV-positive.
“It’s just that their presence has hurt the local economy, so co-existence is not possible.”
Landlords had complained that tenants cancelled rental contracts after the foundation opened its doors to people who are HIV-positive.
“And these landlords have mortgages that they need to pay, so without tenants, they are in trouble,” Wichien explained.
The foundation, located downtown, has dozens of HIV-positive people under its care.
“They don’t have anywhere else to go,” the foundation’s chairperson Pornsawan Chrispirak said.
Glory Hut spokeswoman Chanchanok Khamtong said the foundation had run out of funds and could not move out at present. “We simply don’t have the funds to move anywhere else,” she said. “We’re not disturbing anybody – we just want to take care of our patients.”
Officials from Chon Buri Municipality said they would help find better accommodation for the foundation.
“We sympathise with those living with HIV. It’s just that it’s going to be better for their home to be away from the community zone,” Wichien said.
He added that the community was willing to provide financial support to help the foundation relocate.