| Faiths unite to help people living with AIDS generate income
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Listen to the Interview
in English
(Windows Media - 2.4 MB) |
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To any visitor of Prao District in Chiang Mai province, Kittichai Kittisaro may seem like any ordinary monk. However, to the 2500 people with AIDS being supported in the district, he is one of many symbols of hope. His Kuamtak temple is among 60 Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic and Protestant places of worship that offer them free food, medicine, counseling and other health services. Kittichai and other spiritual leaders across Thailand use temples, churches and mosques to organize home based care activities for the sick living in remote areas.
Besides the high number of people reached and the successful cooperation of all major faiths, a key success is the income generation opportunity that the project avails people living with AIDS through the sale of handicrafts, paintings and other such items that they make themselves. Before the project, they would only worry about how much longer they had left to live. 'These days they ask "Now that I am happy and healthy, how can I make some income to care for my family?” ', narrates Somthong Srisudhivong, a representative of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), which implements this programme supported by the Global Fund on behalf of the Thai Ministry of Health. Listen to Somthong.
 " Faith-based organizations already have a lot of resources in the communities. The Global Fund money adds value to this..."
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