Khun Mechai Viravaidya coming to Asian University

On Thursday 7 August 2008, Asian university is delighted to welcome Khun Mechai, a guest lecturer as a part of our International Summer University programme.
He will be talking about the Impact of Globalisation and Modernisation on Thailand.

Registration is from 9.00am in the Academic Building of Asian University.

Attendance is free, but please book your places by 5 August by telephoning 038 235 700 or e-mailing admissions@asianust.ac.th

Further information is on the website www.asianust.ac.th/

Mechai Viravaidya is an original thinker who is best known in Thailand for his success in promoting family planning and the reduction of HIV through the wider use of contraceptives.

Since the 1970s, Khun Mechai has been affectionately known as Mr. Condom, and condoms are sometimes referred to as "mechais". Starting with condom-blowing contests for children, T-shirts with cartoon condoms, condom key rings and then a restaurant chain, Mechai has had a huge influence on attitudes to family planning here in Thailand. As one of the most successful marketing professionals, over the past thirty years his campaigns have reduced the rate of population increase in Thailand from over 3% down to 0.6% pa.

There is of course much more to Mechai than condoms! The real target behind his campaigning is to improve the lot of the rural poor, by offering them the chance to lead useful and productive lives, without the burden of too many children. Family planning, AIDS prevention and rural development are all essential aspects of the alleviation of poverty in Thailand.

Mechai was born to a Scottish mother and a Thai father, who met in Edinburgh when then were both studying medicine. After their marriage in 1937, Mechai's parents moved to Siam. Mechai was born in 1941, was educated in Australia. and in the mid-1960s he returned to Thailand and started to work in family planning, emphasizing and encouraging the use of condoms. In 1973 he founded a non-profit service organization, the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), to continue working to improve the lives of the rural poor. Among other things, he held condom blowing contests for school children, encouraged taxi cab drivers to hand out condoms to their customers and founded a restaurant chain called "Cabbages and Condoms" where condoms rather than mints are served after the meal. Their gift shops offer many condom-themed souvenirs.

Mechai served as deputy minister of industry from 1985 to 1986 under Prime-Minister Prem Tinsulanonda. He served as senator from 1987 until 1991. It was during this time that AIDS appeared in Thailand, and he increased his efforts to promote sexual-safety awareness. After a military coup in 1991, the King installed Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun who appointed Mechai minister for tourism, information and AIDS. Mechai served until 1992 and was able to start a widespread and successful family planning and AIDS awareness campaign.

Khun Mechai continues to oversee rural development and health initiatives as the Chairman of PDA, and, in 2007 the PDA was awarded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Gates Award in recognition of its pioneering work in family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.

In 2001, a biography of Mechai Viravaidya was published (written by Thomas D'Agnes) which makes interesting reading, whether you have seen and heard Khun Mechai for yourself or not.