THE STORY OF TAKE CARE!! SAFE SEX PROJECT

There’s a popular gay bar, in Bangkok, which has a poster on the wall that says,

“LOVE OUR BOYS SAFELY”

It would be lovely if every customer that employed the services of the staff in the various entertainment venues heeded this admonition; but that isn’t always realistic.

In August 2005, the Thai Ministry of Health announced that 28% of men in Bangkok, who have sex with other men (MSM), were HIV positive. There’s no reason to believe that the numbers in Pattaya are any less bleak. Experts in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention stress that promotion of condom use among MSM is vital. Additionally, authorities note that these highly vulnerable men often have unprotected sex with female partners, including wives and girlfriends. Those who work in the gay entertainment industry need to empower themselves by always insisting on the use of condoms and lubricant.

In December 2004, Dr. Philippe Seur, of HEARTT 2000, a domestic non-governmental organization (NGO), which provides free medical care to AIDS patients in Pattaya, Thailand, and its environs, expressed the great need in Pattaya for a significant increase in efforts aimed at HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION. Although some work was being done in local schools and through the efforts of the Provincial Office of the Ministry of Health and Pattaya City Hall, minimal prevention and education efforts were being carried out specifically in the huge entertainment sector.

Recognizing that the HIV rate was again rising and many people were becoming less diligent about safe sex practices, in January 2005, an ad hoc group of volunteer expatriates and Thais formed THE SAFE SEX FUND, which eventually became TAKE CARE!! - SAFE SEX PROJECT. Currently, about ten to twelve expatriate businessmen and retirees, as well as a Thai university student, regularly attend the biweekly meetings. All are volunteers.

In its early foundation period, the following broad mission statement was adopted: The TAKE CARE!! - SAFE SEX PROJECT sponsors programs to provide education and information to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections in Pattaya and environs/.

Further, in those early days, it was decided that the concentration of TAKE CARE!!’s limited resources would be on business owners, managers, service workers and customers, as well as family members, in the over one hundred gay venues in the Pattaya/Jomtien area. Would be venues included go-go bars, beer bars, massage parlors, hotels and guesthouses and karaoke bars.

After a period devoted to getting organized, the group has concentrated on the distribution of Safe Sex Packs, which include two condoms and one lubricant sachet, as well as, an instructional brochure in Thai, to various gay venues throughout Pattaya/Jomtien. These products are purchased from the Thailand office of PSI (Population Services International)-a worldwide, highly regarded social marketing NGO in the reproductive health sector. The current cost of our supplies is two baht per condom and four baht per lubricant sachet, totaling approximately ten baht per Safe Sex Pack, including printing and packaging.

Distribution of Safe Sex Packs, to a growing number of venues, commenced in April 2005. At the present time, about thirty-five venues receive Safe Sex Packs every two or three weeks, depending on whether it’s high or low season. Packs are delivered by a distribution team, which consists of two volunteer expats and a Thai university student who makes initial contact and follow-up with venue management and staff. The object is that no staff member should leave the premises with a customer without safe sex supplies (condoms and lube).

As of August 2008, TAKE CARE!! has distributed 75,000 condoms and 37,500 lubricant sachets. Presently, TAKE CARE!! dispenses approximately 1,500 Safe Sex Packs per month to various venues in the Pattaya area. The only other community based, NGO focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention in the Pattaya gay community is SWING (Sex Workers in Group).

A recent survey conducted by TAKE CARE!!’s distribution committee, of the various venues that receive Safe Sex Packs from TAKE CARE!!, revealed that the overwhelming majority of these venues have a need for safe sex supplies to distribute to their staff. What is more, they usually run out before they receive a new supply.

TAKE CARE!! is also dedicated to HIV/AIDS education and has been invited to speak to staff at some venues which have regular staff meetings. There is obviously a need for the kinds of service TAKE CARE!! is providing and with help from the community, TAKE CARE!! will be able to continue its efforts and expand its services to the gay community of Pattaya.

TAKE CARE!! receives no outside funding except from individual donations and fundraisers. There are, virtually, no administrative costs, as all money goes toward the purchase of supplies and instructional material.