(April 8, 2025) – Assoc. Prof. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, delivered a speech on the “Development Directions for Tackling AIDS in Bangkok Health Zones” at the workshop on Bangkok’s health zoning.
The workshop was held in the Kasat Suek 2 Room on the fourth floor of The Twin Towers Hotel, located in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district.
Deputy Governor Tavida said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has held discussions with a network of public and private agencies regarding directions for tackling AIDS in Bangkok’s health zones.

She mentioned previous health inspections of homeless individuals, noting that 1,000 condoms had been distributed, which is considered a positive outcome as it underscores the importance of safety.

Further discussions are needed, as this issue may involve not only medical or public health personnel but also require conversations with district offices or city law enforcement officers who oversee certain groups of people, she said.

She emphasised that the discussions should be broader and not solely focused on numbers, as this will lead to new methods that enhance safety.

Tavida said the Governor of Bangkok has consistently instructed that, as administrators, we must consider methods and approaches that reduce the workload for civil servants or BMA officials while increasing the effectiveness of their work. “We cannot just work around the clock,” she said.

She noted that approaches to tackling AIDS should be simple. The opening of pride clinics in certain hospitals had previously faced opposition from many doctors, so the name was adjusted to make it more comfortable for people, she said.

“We need to find methods that align with society to ensure the success of various strategies,” she added.

She said the network should be expanded to increase awareness of AIDS and reduce stigma among people. She also highlighted the US decision to cut global health aid, which poses a challenge for the network.

The BMA has flexibility in using some of its budget, and from a medical standpoint, there may be ways to allocate funds to keep the work ongoing, she said.

Deputy Governor Tavida also emphasised the importance of health zones, stating that they should act as facilitators that streamline work. Good facilitators mean that if there are obstacles downstream, they should step in to resolve them.

She referred to hospitals as financial reservoirs and public health centres as area managers, responsible for the use of funds from the National Health Security Office (NHSO).

The relationship within the health zone is not just about dividing responsibilities; hospitals must make the impossible possible. She expressed hope that the zoning system would be more widely used for communication and data management, as it could prove beneficial.

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