Former senator Mechai Viravaidya was appointed to the UNAIDS High Level Commission on HIV Prevention last month alongside other famous personalities such as former French president Jacques Chirac and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Mohamed ElBaradei.
"I am glad that there is new effort to focus serious attention on HIV prevention, since prevention is the only cure. We need imaginative and 'out-of-the-box' approaches to stopping the spread of HIV, and I believe this commission will help with a renewed effort in this endeavour," Mechai said upon hearing about his appointment.
Mechai is famous for popularising the use of condoms in Thailand.
All 17 members of the commission are expected to use their unique authority and influence to lead social and political campaigns over the coming year to galvanise support for effective HIV prevention programmes.
Thirty years into the Aids epidemic, the world has made unprecedented progress in the treatment of people living with HIV, yet more than 7,000 people contract the virus every day.
While treatment has grabbed the limelight as a key strategy, prevention has often been neglected. The UNAIDS commissioners will take the message of prevention to their circles of influence and help sway public opinion.
"We have received amazing support for the commission," UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidib said. "The greatest successes have been achieved in countries where the leadership has made reducing new infections top priority. With the backing of these personalities, we can bring about a prevention revolution and reverse the epidemic."