AIDs is a serious disease, but Mechai Viravaidya is using all types of methods — including humorous ones — to combat the spread of the disease in Thailand. Humor may not cure AIDs, but it may be a weapon used in the battle of prevention.
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Mechai Viravaidya is the AIDs Czar of Thailand, and is therefore better known by his alias, the “Condom King” of Thailand. He has tried some very creative methods to combat AIDs including having cops hand out condoms, and providing condoms at McDonald’s, bus stops, and shopping centers. On the humorous side, he has held condom blowing contests in villages. He has had hotels leave condoms under bedroom pillows. And, he has promoted special dishes at restaurants including “Cabbages and Condoms.”
Through his humorous, creative efforts, Mechai has helped reduced new AIDs cases in Thailand from 140,000 a year in the early 1990’s to 20,000 today.
Listen here to a live interview as he speaks with ideastream®’s Eric Wellman.
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