PENIS MEASURING DEVICE TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS IN THAILAND

BY D. ARUL RAJOO

BANGKOK, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Thai health authorities are introducing an
official penis measuring device with the aim of advising condom users which size
to wear for comfort and protection against sexual diseases.

The Nation daily, quoting Dr Somyos Kittimankhong of the Department of
Disease Control's (DDC) anti-Aids division, said the disposable paper measuring
tape would be launched under the the Public Health Ministry's "Condom for All"
campaign.

"Men's instinctive concern over their penis size will soon be discussed more
openly - or even boasted about - with the news that an official penis measuring
device is being introduced to Thailand," the daily said.

According to Dr Somyos, the tape records widths of between 49 and 56
millimetres - covering the "Thai penis size standard", The campaign was
launched following the rise in the number of gay men and sex workers
contracting HIV.



The Government has alloacted 20 million baht (RM2 million) for a nationwide
campaign to give away free condoms to gay men, and males and females aged 15 to
25, with a special focus on ensuring that people wear the right size protection.

"Larger size condoms can slip off or deaden the pleasure during sex, while
smaller ones will cause discomfort to wearers. These factors dissuade people
from using condoms - which encourages the spread of HIV/Aids," said Somyos.

He said making good fitting condoms available would be useful in dealing
with the re-emerging HIV/Aids problem as well as promoting widespread practice
of safe sex in the country.

The department's statistics showed that HIV infection rates among gay men
who went for HIV/AIDS testing was 17 per cent in 2003, 28 per cent in 2005 and
32 percent in 2007, a rise that has prompted warnings of a second wave of
HIV/Aids infection.

According to reports, one in four new HIV infections occur among men who
have sex with men while new cases among married women in the country have
increased by 30 percent to 40 percent.

The campaign, where more than 7,000 local authorities would be asked to
participate in promoting the practice of safe sex and in distributing the free
condoms, is aimed at cutting infection rates in half by 2011.

-- BERNAMA