The people in charge of the ” Phrabat Nam Phu ” temple, or “The Temple of AIDS” in Lopburi, succeeded in educating the people of the area until they were able to achieve the goal of persuading them to accept the abandoned AIDS patients who had taken the temple as a refuge to overcome ignorance and hatred towards the patients. In the past, the people of the area were afraid of people with AIDS and avoided dealing with or talking to them, according to the head of the temple, Pra Rajvisudhi Prajanarth, who pointed out that the villagers refrained from coming and providing aid to the temple at first but soon changed their decision and understood the matter. The temple is run by medical staff and volunteers from the healthy infected patients after it was difficult to find employees to fill all the positions inside the temple, and there are about 2,000 people in the temple, including AIDS patients and non-AIDS patients, the temple also supports local hospitals and schools.
Pra Rajvisudhi Prajanarth – Abbot of Phrabat Nam Phu temple said
“The problem was no one takes action. People didn’t just get scared of AIDS itself but also scared of the patients. No one wanted to get involve or even talk to them. At that time, we were just a mere temple. However, some patients came to us for the reason they had elsewhere to go.”
Wilaiwan Khantiwong – Head of Nurse Department, Phrabat Nam Phu temple said
“Our patients are just like those patients of other diseases, bedridden with no blister or abscess. But to be around AIDS patients, some people feel uncomfortable with it. The nursing department of Phrabat Nam Phu now has only 3 staff – me, the only nursing assistant here, and the other two who took a course of nursing care. We have to rely on some healthy patients who be able to take care of their friends, change diapers, take them to shower, or feed them.”
Wilaiwan Khantiwong – Head of Nurse Department, Phrabat Nam Phu temple said
“They most likely need encouragement. Some patients did not want to stay here but they had to. Some wish their family would ever come to see them. Unfortunately, only a few have their families visit every month. Some have been here for over 10 years but never once see their families. Working here, I have to be a nursing assistant, sister, or niece to them. We are family to them.”
Pra Rajvisudhi Prajanarth – Abbot of Phrabat Nam Phu temple said
“Back then when we were just a simple small temple, villagers came to make their merits. But once the ‘AIDS’ arrived, no one ever came. Even if I went outside for alms, no one showed up. But in my opinion, Thailand has a special character which is kindness and benevolence. Though they objected and ignored us in the first place, they came to help us once they understood the whole thing. Whenever we are in trouble, we Thai do not hesitate to help each other. I am so thankful that all these 30 years I have been working on this, not even once anyone let me down.”
Source A24