AIDS: the last sanctuary

Nowadays, 40 millions people live with the HIV virus around the globe. The malady has been known for more than 2 decades, and AIDS shouldn’t be a scary plague anymore. But still too many hide their struggle to survive, fearing the stigma and rejection. Thailand does not make an exception, however courageous the government is, by getting 3 compulsory licenses from major pharmaceutical companies (this enables the country to either legally import drugs or produce them locally). Officially, the virus in the Kingdom of Siam hits over half a million people. Some HIV infected Thais end up in Wat Prah Bat Nam Phu –shelter for the repudiated. Here you’ll find no doctor, no morphine, no equipment that could ease the pain. Instead, you will warily glance at the raw agony of patients through the terminal room, and admire the compassionate yet despairing work of the few volunteers. The AIDS foundation of the temple operates thanks to the everyday tourists groups (literally) who visit the AIDS foundation of the temple. They donate cash or rice bags, and end their tour in the ‘Life Museum’, where actual bodies of HIV victims are displayed. Still, a lot of the ‘patients’ happened to be strong, welcoming, keen to share some of their time left. Father Michael –a miraculous catholic Maryknol Priest who has been working for 4 years in Wat Prah Bat Nam Phu, even calls it the “temple of life”. Often, the ashes sent to the relatives come back to the temple, piling up in a dedicated place: the unwanted remaining of the shameful brother or daughter.

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Keywords aids sida hiv infected sick dead dying patients wat prah bat nam phu thailand infection sickness santuary