went to a stadium to receive free samples of it. The Ministry of Health has said that this is not an effective drug in reducing viral load of the disease,
but people continue to place their hope in it.
Like the other volunteers at Wat Phrabahtnamphu, I spent much of my time
doing very basic care: changing pads, washing and feeding the patients
and giving massages and herbal hot compresses. Massage is an accepted
traditional remedy in Thailand and has recently seen an increase in popularity.
The herbal hot compress is another interesting traditional remedy used
at Wat Phrabahtnamphu. Bundles of herbs are wrapped in a small cloth,
steamed and then applied all
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over the patient's bodies. It's very effective with patients who suffer
from muscular pain.
Alongside my time at Wat Phrabahtnamphu, I was able to explore some of
its beautiful countryside - temples, canals and markets - as well as see
some traditional theatre and nightlife in Bangkok. In this UN Year of
the Volunteer, I would highly recommend any adventurous, committed people
to spend some time at Wat Phrabahtnamphu.
Wat Phrabahtnamphu has a website: www.aidstemple.th.org - and Dr Yves has set up his own website - http://www.aids-hospice.com - where he explains some of the medical complexities of caring for dying patients in a resource-poor setting.
