BANGKOK, 23 September 2013 The Public Health Ministry is preparing to launch a health promotion program at the Thai-Myanmar borders to raise awareness on cross-border diseases and promote better health.
According to Director General of the Department of Health Service Support, Boonruang Triruangworawa, the public health sectors in Thailand and Myanmar will work together to ensure the standards of health of alien workers in Thailand. A program, staffed by foreign volunteers who will help looking after Burmese workers’ health and raise awareness on cross-border contagious diseases, will soon be set up. BR>
The program will begin in 2014 and run until 2015 in four border areas, including Tah Kee Lek-Mae Sai border, Myawaddy-Mae Sod border, Dawei-Kanchanaburi border, and Koh Song–Ranong border.
According to the plan, one volunteer will be assigned to take care of 50 alien workers. The volunteers will receive training on what to do in case of a contagious disease outbreak or during an emergency; they will also receive basic medical training. Although they are not monetarily paid, they will be entitled to social welfare in Thailand.
So far, a pilot project has been set up in Samut Sakhon. The program has reportedly been a success as it helps reduce hospital expenses.
