Thailand's Lop Buri Provincial Government, the Dramaraksa Foundation
and AIDS Healthcare Foundation Now Partner to Open Free AIDS Treatment
Center Providing Lifesaving Antiretroviral Treatment

LOP BURI PROVINCE, THAILAND, August 30, 2007In an innovative
collaboration that will provide free HIV/AIDS care—including
lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART)—to people living with
advanced AIDS in Lop Buri Province, the Provincial Government, Lop
Buri Province; the Dramaraksa Foundation—Wat Phrabatnampo; and AIDS
Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will open their first free AIDS treatment
clinic in Lop Buri, Thailand with a formal dedication ceremony on
Friday, August 31st at 9:30am (Wat Phrabatnampo, 75 miles north of
Bangkok).

The clinic, which will be known as the `Wat Phrabatnampo—Center of Hope' is
located on the grounds of Wat Phrabatnampo—Thailand's world-renowned AIDS
temple. Since 1992, thousands of Thais living with AIDS have received
compassionate hospice care at the temple. Now, this famed temple—where so many
have died of AIDS over the years—will offer new hope for those living with the
disease through the care and free antiretroviral treatment that will be provided
at the center. Other sites in this collaboration will also be known as `Centers
of Hope,' and each will support the Provincial Government's efforts to expand
and the scale-up of delivery of standard antiretroviral treatment, care and
support services to those people in need throughout Lop Buri Province.

"It is a great privilege for AIDS Healthcare Foundation to partner in
the Kingdom of Thailand with the Provincial Government in Lop Buri and
the Dramaraksa Foundation to open this first `Center of Hope.' Over
the next five years, AHF's Asia Pacific Bureau in close collaboration
with the Provincial Health Department and the Dramaraksa Foundation
will provide antiretroviral treatment, medical care and support
services at the centers extending life and bringing hope for people
living with HIV/AIDS," said Dr. Chinkholal Thangsing, Asia/Pacific
Bureau Chief for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the US' largest HIV/AIDS
healthcare and prevention and education provider, which operates more
than 40 free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean and Asia.

"I would like to offer thanks not only to our partners, but also to Wora
Booncherd, President of the Kasetsart University Alumni Association, USA and the
Board of Directors and Oraphan Boonthong in Bangkok, for first introducing us to
the Wat Phrabatnampo-Dramaraksa Foundation Hospice Care program, and for
educating us as to the tremendous need for such treatment and compassionate care
and support for people living with HIV/AIDS in Thailand."

"It is my honor to be here for the grand opening of the "Center of
Hope" clinic under tripartite collaboration between the Lop Buri
Provincial Government, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Dramaraksa
Foundation – Wat Phrabatnampo," said Mr. Suwat Tantipat, Lop Buri
Provincial Governor. "I feel pleased for Lop Buri people and HIV
patients, as this project gives hope and supports the HIV patients
just like its name, `Center of Hope.' We need both knowledge and
understanding in order to support HIV patients. I believe this project
will give a better life quality to HIV patients and let them live a
normal life once again. I, on behalf of Lop Buri Provincial
Government, promise that if there is anything the Lop Buri Provincial
Government could help with, we would help with our full strength
immediately."

"This is a very good time for us to be here together for the grand
opening of the ART `Center of Hope,' The number of HIV patients has
continued to rise and increase rapidly, and many people are in need of
ARV medicines and better treatment and care services.

We therefore must expand our services for HIV/AIDS patients and serve their
needs more effectively," said Dr. Wichai Thaitaworn, Director of the Dramaraksa
Foundation." As part of this partnership, the Dramaraksa Foundation will provide
AHF with infrastructure, space and basic services at the centers in order to
help AHF provide high quality HIV treatment care and support services for people
living with HIV/AIDS in Lop Buri Province.

We will also provide logistical local support; assist in the recruitment of
personnel and other necessary support to AHF to ensure smooth functioning of the
collaborative ART center. The Dramaraksa Foundation will also provide services
to increase community HIV/AIDS awareness, assist in the provision of outreach
services to increase knowledge of HIV/AIDS, ART treatment education and conduct
follow up when possible to ensure adherence and success of this new
collaborative ART treatment program."

"Thailand is an excellent example of what could be achieved in the
fight against HIV/AIDS when given the necessary support," said Henry
E. Chang, Chief of Global Affairs, AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

"Today's action by AHF and its partners marks another important step
toward expanding access to quality HIV/AIDS treatment and care
services as well as combating the harsh stigma and discrimination
against people living with HIV/AIDS in Thailand."

In an International Herald Tribune (October 16, 2006) news article
late last year, reporter Seth Mydans noted, "…Since 1984, one million
people have been infected in Thailand; 400,000 have died… the World
Bank estimated that without Thailand's vigorous prevention program, a
total of 7.7 million people would have become infected." He also
reported, "…Thailand has made little headway in easing a harsh stigma
that was fed by its successful campaign against the disease…" and
that, "…Thailand faces the need for two seemingly contradictory
campaigns, one to re-educate the public about the horrors of the
disease, the other to reassure it that infected people are not dangerous."

"Thailand has long been recognized as a leader in the worldwide fight
against AIDS, and we are honored to be able to bring AHF's clinical
experience and expertise to join Thailand in this battle to help save
the lives of its people," said Michael Weinstein, AIDS Healthcare
Foundation's President. "It is my wish that this inaugural `Center of
Hope' treatment facility in Lop Buri—AHF's first treatment site in
Thailand—will be the first of many in the partnership, and that it
also serves as a beacon of hope for those in need of treatment. It is
my heartfelt wish that in addition to providing quality ART and care
services, these centers also contribute to a greater understanding of
HIV/AIDS and help reduce the stigma that many of those living with the
disease have encountered."

Lop Buri Province

Lop Buri Province, one of the central provinces of Thailand, is
located on the east side of the Chao Phraya River Valley, between the
Lopburi River and Pa Sak Rivers. The province is subdivided into 11
districts. The districts are further subdivided into 124 sub-districts
and 1110 villages. The province has a population of roughly 750,000.
HIV/AIDS in Thailand

According to the website, www.avert.org, "There are very few
developing countries in the world where public policy has been
effective in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS on a national scale,
but Thailand is an exception. A massive programme to control HIV has
reduced visits to commercial sex workers by half, raised condom usage,
decreased the prevalence of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
dramatically, and achieved substantial reductions in new HIV
infections. Its well funded, politically supported and comprehensive
prevention programmes have saved millions of lives, reducing the
number of new HIV infections from 143,000 in 1991 to 19,000 in 2003.

Nonetheless, more than 1-in-100 adults today in this country of 65
million people are infected with HIV, and AIDS has become a leading
cause of death."


"Dr C Thangsing"
e-mail: <drcthangsing@...>