Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu (AidsTemple)

Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu

The Buddhist temple that cares for full-blown AIDS patients

Thailand is a country facing an AIDS epidemic.
Conservative estimates put the number of HIV positive Thais at about one million. That's one in every 55 Thais. Within five years, that number will swell to approximately one in 10 Thais. Every day, another 600 Thais contract the HIV virus. Nine Thais die from AIDS every hour. And these statistics show no signs of slowing down.
With the meltdown of the Thai economy since July 1997, and with scarcely any government welfare for AIDS patients, Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu is a temple that desperately requires your help.

The temple has 400 beds for AIDS sufferers. It survives on generous donations from people like yourself and companies.

The temple has medical and administration expenses of about 2 million Baht per month (US$40,000) which were covered by donations. But since the collapse of the economy last July, the amount of monthly donations has dwindled to about 200,000 Baht (US$4,000). AIDS patients who are strong are now being asked to return to their homes in this interim period until the economy strengthens.

On this web page you can read about the history of the temple, learn about the HIV Band (whose members are all HIV positive) residing at the temple, follow the lives of some of the temple's patients, and learn about the ambitious THAMMARAK NIWET HOUSING PROJECT which aims to create a housing village for 10,000 HIV sufferers.We also explain the many attractions of Lopburi province, 115 km north of Bangkok.
Article Source:http://www.aidstemple.th.org