Mechai Viravaidya (born January 17, 1941, Thai: มีชัย วีระไวทยะ) is a politician and activist in Thailand who has popularized condoms in that country.[1]
Since the 1970s, Mechai has been affectionately known as "Mr. Condom", and condoms are sometimes referred to as "mechais" in Thailand.[2] From the time that he began his work, the average number of children in Thai families has reduced from 7 to 1.2.
Mechai was born in Australia to a Scottish mother and a Thai father[3]. He has a sister, Sumalee, who was formerly a journalist in Bangkok. Mechai was educated at Geelong Grammar School. In the mid-1960s he came to Thailand and started to work in family planning, emphasizing condoms. In 1973, he left government and founded a non-profit service organization, the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), to continue the work to improve the lives of the rural poor. Among other things, he held condom blowing contests for school children, encouraged taxi cab drivers to hand out condoms to their customers, and founded a restaurant chain called Cabbages and Condoms where condoms, rather than mints, are served after the meal.
Mechai served as deputy minister of industry from 1985 to 1986 under prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda. He served as senator from 1987 until 1991. During this time AIDS appeared in Thailand, and he increased his efforts to promote sexual-safety awareness.
A military coup in 1991 installed prime minister Anand Panyarachun; Panyarachun then appointed Viravaidya minister for tourism, information and AIDS. He was able to start a large and quite successful education campaign and served until 1992. In 2004, Mechai again became a senator.
As of 2007, he continues to oversee rural development and health initiatives as the Chairman of PDA, now the largest NGO in Thailand, with 600 employees and 12,000 volunteers. On May 29, 2007, PDA was awarded the 2007 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Gates Award in recognition of its pioneering work in family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.[4] This award came with funds of $1,000,000.[5]
An interesting side note is the large abortion clinic which openly operates next to the Condoms and Cabbages restaurant. This is one of several places in Bangkok where women can purchase a professional abortion on demand, a practice which is technically illegal in the country.[6] The clinic is tolerated, purportedly though not officially through arrangements made by Mechai Viravaidya.
In 2006 he won praise from the toilet industry (but criticism from the retail industry) for proposing that retailers be obliged to build a public toilet for every 10 square metres of retail space.[7]
   | Curriculum Vitae of Mechai Viravaidya - Dr. Mechai Viravaidya |
| | Global Health Champion page, Rx for Survival Series - Rx for Survival . Global Health Champions . Mechai Viravaidya | PBS |
| | Toilet-train food firms: Mechai - Toilet-train food firms: Mechai |
| | Thailand - The International Encyclopedia of Sexuality: Thailand |
| | Six influential Asians changing their part of the world. - Search - Global Edition - The New York Times |
| | Conversations/Mechai Viravaidya; Brash and Unabashed, Mr. Condom Takes on Sex and Death in Thailand - Conversations/Mechai Viravaidya; Brash and Unabashed, Mr. Condom Takes on Sex and Death in Thailand - The New York Times |
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