พัฒนาการและการเคลื่อนไหวขององค์กรเครือข่ายผู้ติดเชื้อเอชไอวี/เอดส์ ประเทศไทย

Abstract

The objective of this qualitative study is to understand development and movement of The Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+). Data conducted from observation and interview with TNP+’s member; chairman, regional coordinator, provincial chairman, staffs, people living with HIV (PLWH) leaders and PLWH Volunteers in the Northern and North Eastern Networks during April 2013 – May 2014. The study found that PLWH start to find and join a group since 1991 after the first emerging of AIDS in Thailand in 1984. They first met each other at a healer’s place as a “friend” who shares the same faith and trying the way to survival. Joining together as a group was supported by NGOs. It’s lets them have their own spaces for heal, comfort, exchange information and empower to walk on. Later while the network has been strengthening, the PLWH members are physically rehabilitated and they are empowered. Subsequently, they switch their roles from service receiver to service co-provider. The service is that taking care PLWH in order to access to the anti-retro virus (ARV) medicine and the standard healthcare. Beside they have cooperated with PLWH in campaigning on health security. At the end it leaded to legislation of the national health security act and distribution of ARV medicine. After PLWH can access to the ARV medicine and healing, the PLWH network employed their capital on three activities. The first is movement against stigmatize upon PLWH. The second is protecting the PLWH right. And the third is developing the health security system. Their strategy are building local working groups from organizations which are related to the problem and engaging in working with local committees. The learning process of right, equality and participation stimulates PLWH to create new identities which turn a serious decease patient to an empowered citizen.