Educating a working girl

[Encora]

I realise that my pre-occupation with this subject may make me look silly, but I want to pursue this.

 

I had a long talk with Noi (My 'little massage girl") Yesterday about risk and disease. Well, long is a big word, limited by my far from perfect thai, en the fact we had a couple in the cubicle nextdoors.

 

Basically she said:

"But I don't really Know much about all this. All I know is that when I started work 6 months ago, one of the older girls took me aside and said: "if you have sex, always use a condom, otherwise you may get sick. And boss makes us go to the doctor for a check-up every month.

Before I came to Pattaya I had never been away from Sakhon Nakon, and nobody talks about these things there. I had only one boyfriend, who left me while I was pregnant, and he never used condoms".

 

Well, that explains why she got pregnant at 19, having lost her virginity only a few months earlier!

 

I am aware my Thai isn't good enough to be technically correct to give her the information she needs, except to say "Use condom' or you risk getting sick and dying", but I'd like to provide her with more correct info.

 

Options:

1.A nurse-educator as we would use in farangland . But where to find that in pattaya?

2. A clear, no nonsense educational book on anatomy, sexual health etc. I know those exist in the West, but how do I find one in Thai language in Pattaya?

3. Maybe a thai website that gives all this info. I know I found one four years ago when a housekeeper of ours got into trouble, but for the life of me I cannot find it back now.

 

Anyone here who can help me find these resources?

[dave269]

A suggestion, you could email Bangkok or Bumrungrad Hospital and ask them about this. Obviously, they read and write fluent english when you write them.

 

With the big initiatives on STD's they probably have those resources, I would think specially a website would be the best and easiest for the girls to access. As you might know Bumrungrad is a

world renowned hospital, although I have been to Bangkok Hospital and felt very impressed. They also have a branch: Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital. You could even do a walk in there and ask. Pattaya Int'l hospital (on Soi 4) also, but the two mentioned I believe are more orientated towards international standards and medical education.

 

Really, I think if you wrote them you would be on the right path that you are looking for. Hope this helps.

Edited October 10, 2009 by dave269

[CyberHippie]

Personally, I think the way the "Older girl" explained it is right on the Mark... You cant get more correct than that.

 

In fact, its such a perfect statement that it should be on billboards and condom packets all over the place. T-shirts.. you name it

 

May I suggest that you find a good translator and ask them to google the info you need and then print it out.

 

Best bet is to buy a pack of condoms as I am sure they have the info you need on there and if not, ask the pharmacy

[Al.]

Contact Father Giovann at the Camillian Foundation Rayong they have a prevention program used to come to Pattaya to teach the bargirls not sure if they still come to Pattaya though. It's a charity I support and well worth a visit.

 

Camillian Social Centre

 

Al.

[Encora]

Thanks for those suggestions guys.

Still wonder if there ae no good books on the subject here in thai.

 

I have in the meantime spoken with a young female doctor in the hospital in Soi 4, who suggested I bring her along to see this dr on my next visit, and she's have a long talk with her. Would be a first step. Would also give me an opportunity to have her properly tested for whatever she may have encountered so far.

[Al.]

Thats a good start and may be all she need however some of the girls can be a bit intimidated by a doctor.

 

I would suggest take her to the Camillian Centre in Rayong she will see for herself what can happen it's an education in itself not only some of the advanced cases but also the children who are thankfully doing well happy healthy and coping with the disease in a loving and caring community.

 

There is absolutely nothing to fear by going there and it would benefit anyone who does visit.

 

The people there are all very nice not condescending or judgmental at all and they will give her all the information she needs in Thai.

 

Al.

[Cerberus]

All the hospitals have full leaflets covering every STD, symptoms, treatment and the means of protection. These can be found in Thai and in some locations in English.

 

Our staff have been through each of these and have a refresher on at least one every month

[ritch]

+1

 

it's amazing how little the girls know about protecting themselves and why they should do it.

 

Props to cerebrus for taking some initiative

 

i did foreplay with a normal tg and did everything but penetration

she didnt think anything of it to be safe i made sure we talked about it in more detail

about the whole getting pregnant thing and if she didnt know that could cause pregnancy who knows.

 

however i spoke to her felt like lecturing but im sure i could have done it better but i was pretty stressed about it too

however with my current gf she didnt want to take the pill cos it would make her fat etc, its much easier for you to understand a friend than a website

so i think that this is a pretty important feature specifically in the sex trade

 

i wont go into the subject of sex education in schools, but i believe the information should be available

for those with risks in the profession, again some people listen some dont

[Dr.Winston]

When the HIV problem first became big news in Thailand they had a fantastic campaign lead by a senior politician called Michai. It was so succesful that some Thais still call condoms Michai's.

 

Also, at the same time they used to put together travelling shows that would travel from bar to bar putting on their educational display. After the show they would hand out huge quantities of free condoms. I liked the idea because it got the message accross in a way that was entertaining, remember some of these BG's can't read Thai. Something like this would still work today IMO.

[unlucky1]

When the HIV problem first became big news in Thailand they had a fantastic campaign lead by a senior politician called Michai. It was so succesful that some Thais still call condoms Michai's.

 

Also, at the same time they used to put together travelling shows that would travel from bar to bar putting on their educational display. After the show they would hand out huge quantities of free condoms. I liked the idea because it got the message accross in a way that was entertaining, remember some of these BG's can't read Thai. Something like this would still work today IMO.

 

I think it was Thaksin who decided that too much publicity around HIV could show Thailand in the wrong light so the adverts came down and awareness came down with them.

 

Thailand was spoken about as a great case study on how to deal with HIV but the good work of the 90s has been undone by laziness and also the Thai cultural trait of 'saving face'.