Boy Somjai and Jam Chainukul (not their real names) are a young same-sex couple from Bangkok, Thailand. At the start of their relationship, they decided to take HIV tests for the first time. Looking for information online, their friends suggested the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand (RSAT), a community-based HIV clinic located off a busy street in Bangkok.

RSAT, with four clinics and 10 drop-in centres in different cities across Thailand, serves as a one-stop service where gay men and other men who have sex with men and transgender people can access HIV prevention services and take part in HIV-related information sessions, with flexible service hours suitable for the lifestyles of many people from key populations.

Danai Linjongrat, the Executive Director of RSAT, said, “Access to HIV services for key populations is among the biggest challenges to the HIV response in the country. It is extremely important that key populations can access HIV prevention and treatment services without fear of discrimination.”

Mr Boy and Mr Jam, who now return to RSAT every three months for regular check-ups, said, “When we first visited the clinic, we were really nervous, as we were looking for a place that respects our confidentiality. Here we found more than an HIV clinic—we found a place we can trust, like a family. The health staff made us feel comfortable to share our story; they did not judge us and they understood our needs with an open mind.”

The success of RSAT is credited in part to its health workers being members of the populations they serve. RSAT has adopted the country’s key population-led health services model, in which people from key populations identify and meet the HIV and other health-related needs of their peers. “We understand the needs of our clients, what they want, where they live and how they feel, because our staff members are people from the communities,” says Mr Linjongrat. Read more via UNAIDS