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| View more photos of Dr. Mechai Viravaidya at work |
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Special Guest Speaker: Dr. Mechai Viravaidya
View Biography [Word, 42KB]
Dr. Mechai Viravaidya, also known as "the condom king,” is Thailand's famous fighter for family planning, safe sex, and AIDS prevention. Since 1974, the PDA, the organization founded by Khun* Mechai, has helped improve lives and strengthen communities in Thailand and received important awards for pioneering work that has become an international model. Khun Mechai is best known for his use of humor and unorthodox methods in focusing the public's attention on important public health issues, such as Thailand's rapid population growth in the ‘70s and ’80s and today’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. To some, his methods are shocking, but techniques such as condom-blowing contests and handouts of condoms to police and taxi drivers and their fares in the busy streets of cities like Bangkok always get attention (see photos here). Khun Mechai’s Cabbages & Condoms restaurants are very popular, and instead of chocolates, patrons get a plate of condoms after their meals. He even persuaded Buddhist monks to sprinkle holy water on condoms, all in an effort to demystify this simple piece of rubber and encourage the Thai people to use it. Thanks to Khun Mechai’s charisma, PDA’s innovative approaches to community development and a nationwide network of village-based volunteers, more than 10 million people throughout Thailand have benefited not only from family planning and HIV prevention services but also from income generation, water resource development, sanitation projects, environmental conservation, and promotion of gender equality and democracy.
* "Khun" is an honorific title that Thais use to address those who they most admire and respect, meaning something akin to "most honored one."
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Follow-Up Activity with PDA: Public-Private Partnership - Improving Health through Economic Development
With Mr. Tanatat Puttasuwan
View Biography [Word, 29KB]
Mr. Puttasuwan is PDA's Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and a member of their Board of Trustees. In a special afternoon session at the PDA office, he will discuss microfinance and income generation for provision of health care and other services, followed by a Q&A. The Village Development Partnership (VDP) is an integrated rural development project model being applied by the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), one of Thailand’s most established and well-known NGO’s. By combining PDA’s diverse developmental expertise and extensive rural network with the financial and human resources of a sponsoring partner (particularly companies, although individuals and organizations can also be effective), the VDP provides a structured approach towards sustainable poverty alleviation. Through this partnership between civil society organizations/local government and the private sector, the VDP addresses issues in the five development areas of social development, economic development, environment, health, and education. Read more in the Village Development Partnership Concept Note [PDF, 365KB].