Dr. Anthony Pramualratana, executive director of the Thailand Business Coalition on AIDS, spoke about the NGO response to HIV/AIDS. He cited examples of Business Houses around Asia cooperating to prevent the stigma of HIV/AIDS in the workplace. He said that special groups had now been setup in several countries to help business and industrial houses to deal with the HIV/AIDS situation which includes education/training, a nondiscriminatory approach, no compulsory testing, assistance to staff living with HIV/AIDS, and support of the continuation of life insurance. Dr. Pramualratana explained the goals of his organization: to promote a society where people with HIV/AIDS and their families can live normal lives, free from discrimination and undue physical and mental suffering, where their human rights are protected and they receive the necessary welfare and social support needed to maintain their livelihoods and their dignity as individuals and families; to strengthen and extend the network and capacity of NGOs working on HIV/AIDS and PHA groups in promoting and supporting a society that is understanding, accepting and supportive toward people with HIV/AIDS and their families.
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