CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Aug 15 (AFP) - His chanting and prostration complete, Lao Buddhist monk Phra Kornkan Chanthamaitry straightens his robe and prepares for the day's main task -- training to become a frontline fighter against HIV/AIDS.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground at a northern Thai temple, he joins the latest group of monks to listen earnestly as a lecturer teaches the best ways to stem the epidemic's spread in Asia.
Sex and drugs are the main topics for the monks who have been trained to renounce both. Laughter regularly punctuates their questioning.
The messages that hundreds of monks have already taken home to Myanmar, China, Cambodia, Bhutan, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam from this most unlikely of training centres are stark. If you have sex wear a condom, if you inject drugs do not share needles.
The warnings are timely. The UN warns that Asian leaders have three years to act decisively or risk the AIDS epidemic running out of control across the continent.
Of the 38 million people worldwide with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), more than seven million live in the Asia-Pacific region.
But Phra Kornkan says the biggest challenge in most communities is to overcome the stigma that has seen thousands of families reject infected relatives because of mistaken fears they will catch the virus.
"HIV is a big problem in Laos but the subject is very secretive. People feel bad about having HIV, but can't talk about it with anyone," says the 25-year-old monk.
Thailand has been widely praised for its response to the epidemic starting in the 1990s with condom promotions and public awareness campaigns which reduced new annual infections from a high of 143,000 in 1991 to 19,000 last year.
Having watched their government lead the way in Asia, the kingdom's monks are now showing that Buddhist tolerance and openness may be the best tools for tackling issues surrounding the virus on the ground.
"People in the countryside lack knowledge about HIV and don't pay too much attention to what teachers, university academics or officials tell them," says Phra Pongwat Ponyavaro, 29, who ran a bar in beach resort Pattayas infamous red-light entertainment strip before ordaining as a Buddhist monk almost five years ago.
"The people have great respect for monks so this is a great chance for us to save lives and teach people how to care for their friends and family members already infected."
Phra Pongwat says the monks also teach people how they can stay healthy until they can gain access to antiretroviral medicines. "Getting rid of ignorance is very important in Buddhism and so is compassion," says the young monk.
Laurie Maund, an Australian former monk and lecturer at Chiang Mais Mahamakut Buddhist University, began the classes eight years ago after abbots decided it would be better to reduce ignorance than take in all the patients rejected by fearful relatives.
"The classes started at the university with a small group of about 40 monks and has now moved to 10 different countries involving about 4,500 monks and nuns," says Maund, conducting the latest session at Pa Dara Phirom temple about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Thailand's northern capital of Chiang Mai.
The monks are taught a broad curriculum on the science of AIDS and take the parts of families, villagers, local politicians and people living with HIV in role-playing activities.
Monks also have hands-on field trips during the joint UN and Australian government funded project that takes them into the heart of affected communities.
"Ten years ago people were scared and thought they had something disgusting socially, but with encouragement given through the monks work they now get the energy to live a long and happy life," says Maund.
"We are expecting a group of Mongolian monks to come to Thailand in the near future. Im sure Mongolia wont be the last."
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