WORLD AIDS DAY - December 1, 2011

Early morning staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center gathered at a central location in Nong Bua Lamphu city preparing for the arrival of students and teachers from 12 different schools from the Non Sang District - these schools in 2011 have gone through the Aids Education and Awareness Program. Each school sent 12 student representatives with 1 or 2 of the teachers. Workers from the Health Department, Education Department, Sub Health Centers and other government officials also joined in the parade through the city.

This years theme was "Getting to Zero", "Zero New HIV Infections", "Zero Discrimination" and "Zero Aids Related Deaths".


Youth from Ban Mae Marie, healthier patients from our hospice, volunteers and other interested persons from the city joined in the mornings activities and the parade through the city.

Once everyone was present baloons were sent off into the aid with loud fireworks to begin the event. The baloons were meant to end up somewhere where no one new; however, as the fireworks went off the explosions brought the baloons down in the same area "mai pen rai" as is commonly heard.

All participants received a t-shirt to remember the occasion with the new SVD Foundation logo in the front of the shirt.

It took some time before all schools arrived. All lined up patiently and waited for the parade to begin.

Nong Bua Lamphu is not a small city, but also not a large city so marching through the main areas only took about 1 hour with police escort and loud Isaan music to attract attention. December 1st is also the founding day for Nong Bua Lamphu becoming a Province 18 years ago. There were other activities going on in the city for this purpose as well as preparation for the Kings Birthday which is celebrated on December the 5th. Mother of Perpetual Help Center has been the only organization promoting World Aids Day activities over the past few years.

Evaluation of Aids Education and Awareness Program

Mid November 2011 Staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center, Volunteers during our Aids Education and Awareness Program, members from the Health and Education Departments and other city officials gathered at the Center to discuss and to see what "Impact" our program in the schools throughout the Province has been. Our Aids Education and Awareness program with the youth in schools has been active in at least 20 schools each year over the past 9 years. Each year the Center concentrated on the schools in one District so that now all schools have gone through the program - some of the Districts now on the 2nd round. The schools involved have been Junior High students. Represented at this evaluation meeting included teachers and students from 20 schools in the Non Sang District.

It was clear through the discussions and input from teachers and students that this program has had a positive impact on those students who have gone through the program. It was clear also that it is necessary to continue with the program in other Districts in order to make further impact on those students who have not yet had the opportunity to participate in the program.

Nurses working in area Sub-Health Centers and the Province Health Department shared their experience of past co-operation with Mother of Perpetual Help Center with awareness programs in local villages and are interested in continuing this co-operation in the future as they feel it is still very important to reach not only the youth but adults in villages as well. The government while helping much with the aids antiviral medications for aids infected persons no longer have the same aids awareness programs in the Province, so it is important that our Center continue with the same level of education and awareness.

Mother of Perpetual Help Center is currently working on a new program to give training also to teachers in the schools so that they too can work along with their students and work in co-operation with staff members from the Center while promoting education and awareness during camps and follow-up work in the schools. The Center can only do so much each year so that if teachers can also be trainers they can have an impact on their students during the times when the Center cannot be available.

Flooding in Bangkok Thailand

Recently while in Bangkok I took the sky train to the end of the line to take a look at some of the flooding which has inundated parts of the city. The photos shown here are not the worst of the flooding as small cars and trucks can still get around, but nearer to Don Muang airport the flooding is much worse with water over 1 meter. Don Muang airport has been closed for some weeks now as the runways are completely covered. The Northern part of the city is having the worst of the flooding so it is difficult for so many living in these flooded areas. The photo just below leading into the week end markets (Jatujak market) shows that the markets are also closed.

Mo Chit area at the end of the sky train line is flooded mainly on the roads. The inner city has so far been spared, but companies are taking precautions and preparing for the worst with having sand bags and other barriers put up in front of their buildings. The flooding has been going on already for almost 2 months.

Bigger trucks are able to carry passengers around in areas where normal vehicles have difficulties. Army trucks as well are helping to transport people to different areas.