Gates Award for Global Health 2007 Winner: Population & Community Development Association (PDA)

Thailand's 'Condom King' honoured

Using humor and fun to promote condom use has earned Mechai Viravaidya of PDA the nickname 'Condom King' in his native Thailand. The Population & Community Development Association was established to help women take control of family planning and Thailand now has one of the lowest rates of population growth in Asia. By promoting condoms PDA was well-poised to tackle HIV/AIDS when it first appeared in the country; infection rates dropped by a staggering 87% during the nineties. PDA was honoured with the Gates Award for Global Health in 2007. Global Health TV met Mechai Viravaidya at the recent Gates Award winners' symposium and asked for his thoughts on how past winners can work together to address global health issues.