WASHINGTON--9 May--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest ThaiMyths.com ( http://www.thaimyths.com ), a project of USA for Innovation, was unveiled today to draw attention to the deceit in Thailand's decision to steal American and European innovation. Each business day for two weeks from May 7 -- May 18, ThaiMyths.com will release additional information regarding one of the ten recent myths by the Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla. Today's Myth: #2 of 10 Myth: Thailand is doing everything it can to address its AIDS problem. Fact: Thailand's response to its current AIDS problem has been met with criticism from within the country. FACT: Compared to Other Countries Around the Globe, Thailand Does Not Spend Large Sums on Healthcare. According to World Health Organization statistics, Thailand spends 3.3% of its gross domestic product on health related expenditures and a total of $260 per capita on health care expenditures. These figures are small when compared to other countries such as Argentina (8.9%) or poorer countries like Cambodia (10.9%) or Lebanon (10.2%). (World Health Organization, Accessed 5/7/07) FACT: Thai AIDS Activists Criticize the Government for Failing to Address the Country's AIDS Problem. Only A Year Ago, Founder Of The AIDS-Access Foundation and former Thai Senator Jon Ungphakorn accused his government of lacking an interest in AIDS. Ungphakorn: "None of the health ministers ... have taken an interest in HIV/AIDS. There is no one in charge of the AIDS program, to see that good, realistic programs are put in place for men who have sex with men, prisoners,migrant workers, and the general public." (Vince Macisaac, "Crisis Point?" Thai Day, 4/6/06) FACT: The Thai Government Has Done Little to Warn the Country's Gay Community about the Threat of AIDS. Thai Day Reported That In Thailand's Gay Clubs, There Are Few Warnings Or Government Programs To Notify Guests Of The Dangers Of AIDS. "[T]here is no notice advising that the rate of HIV infection among gay and bisexual men in Bangkok surged more than 50 percent from 2003 to last year - to 28.3 percent. There is not a single free condom. Not one warning to practice safe-sex and no brochures explaining how to do this." (Vince Macisaac, "Crisis Point?" Thai Day, 4/6/06) FACT: Civic Groups Receive Little Support In Stemming HIV Infections. A Thai Gay Association "receives almost no funding from the ministry" and very old -- and useless -- condoms." Every evening outreach workers from Rainbow Sky -- Thailand's first officially gay, lesbian and transgender association -- leave their Patpong office in groups of four or five to distribute condoms and safe sex information to gay and bisexual men. ...The group is at the frontline of the AIDS epidemic but it receives almost no funding from the ministry, and most of the free condoms it receives from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration are so old that they can no longer be used." (Vince Macisaac, "Crisis Point?" Thai Day, 4/6/06) About USA for Innovation and ThaiMyths.com USA For Innovation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of intellectual property and continued innovation around the globe. USA For Innovation educates decision makers, the media and general public about threats to innovation. ThaiMyths.com is a project of USA for Innovation intended to expose the web of deceit by Thailand's Health Ministry. Foradditional information, please contact us at 866-646-8668 or [email protected] . SOURCE: USA for Innovation CONTACT: USA for Innovation +1-866-646-8668 [email protected] Web site: http://www.ThaiMyths.com --Distributed by AsiaNet ( www.asianetnews.net )--