The Ministry of Culture has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with related agencies to keep Buddhist monks nutritionally healthy. The ministry is encouraging faithful Buddhists to offer healthy diets to monks.
Minister of Culture Itthiphol Khunpluem led the MOU signing ceremony. This agreement was reached between the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Public Health, Mahitala Dhibesra Institute, the Medical Council of Thailand, and the Department of Religious Affairs.
The signing was co-chaired by Somdet Phramahathirachan, a member of the Sangha Supreme Council, and the abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram.
A large number of Buddhist monks in Thailand are infected with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which include diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
The Ministry of Culture recommends that people offer healthy foods to monks, according to the nutritional recommendations. Healthy foods should have less sugar, less oil, and less sodium. (NNT)
