Pattaya, Thailand – December 22nd, 2025
Deputy Mayor of Pattaya City, Wuthisak Rermkijakarn, chaired a key meeting of the Pattaya Health and AIDS Network at 1:30 p.m. on Monday in Meeting Room 231 at Pattaya City Hall.
The session brought together representatives from multiple partner organizations, including the Disease Prevention and Control Division of Pattaya City’s Public Health and Environment Office, the Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 6 Chonburi, Chonburi Provincial Public Health Office, Banglamung District Public Health Office, Pattaya Hospital, Pattaya Rak Center, Pattaya Patthamakhun Hospital, the Service Workers in Group Foundation (SWING Pattaya), and other relevant officials.
Participants reviewed the outcomes of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection (STI) activities for the fiscal year 2025 and presented operational plans for 2026. Discussions also focused on advancing protection measures for service workers, led by SWING, with ongoing monitoring and evaluation to sustain progress in problem resolution.
Meeting data showed concerning trends, with Chonburi Province showing notably higher infection rates compared to other areas, particularly among adolescents and young people. Alarmingly, new cases are rising in three major STIs: drug-resistant gonorrhea, syphilis, and genital warts (condyloma acuminatum, often caused by HPV).
These infections predominantly affect the 20-29 age group.These diseases are preventable through correct and consistent condom use, prompting urgent calls for proactive prevention strategies. The network agreed to develop accelerated action plans, intensify surveillance across Chonburi, especially for drug-resistant gonorrhea, and boost efforts to curb outbreaks and minimize new infections.
The meeting also discussed integrated teamwork to end AIDS by 2026, aligning with the global 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% of those diagnosed receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of treated individuals achieving viral suppression (undetectable viral load).
Additional priorities include promoting condom use education, especially among teenagers, and ensuring coordinated treatment for HIV patients co-infected with tuberculosis. The goal is to reduce new infections and deaths in line with national targets by 2030. Plans were also discussed for an awareness campaign on Sexually Transmitted Infections Day, scheduled for February 14th, 2026, to boost public knowledge and encourage prevention.
These trends align with broader national concerns in Thailand, where STI rates, including syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, have risen since 2018, disproportionately impacting youth aged 15-24. Recent data indicates persistent challenges in high-risk areas, showing the need for continued vigilance and community-driven initiatives.
**Reported by:** Khwanjai Suebtrong
**Photos by:** Thanapong Unmak
Public Relations Division, Administrative Support Office
Pattaya City Tourism and Sports Department
English Version by Adam Judd for The Pattaya News
