“Thai-Lao Cooperation on Health Promotion and Environmental Health Strengthened by Department of Health”

Department of Health strengthens relations on both sides of the Mekong River, ready to raise the level of Thai-Lao people to be healthy

      ดร.นายแพทย์สราวุฒิ บุญสุข รองอธิบดีกรมอนามัย หัวหน้าคณะฝ่ายไทยพร้อมด้วย ดร. เกศเกสร พระศรีสมบัติ รองอธิบดีกรมอนามัยและส่งเสริมสุขภาพ หัวหน้าคณะฝ่าย เป็นประธานร่วมในพิธีเปิดการประชุมเชิงปฏิบัติการความร่วมมือไทย - ลาว ด้านส่งเสริมสุขภาพและอนามัยสิ่งแวดล้อม ประจำปี 2566 เมื่อวันที่ 9พฤษภาคม 2566 ณ โรงแรมเซ็นทาราคอนเวนชันเซ็นเตอร์ จังหวัดอุดรธานี โดยมี นายนิติพัฒน์ ลีลาเลิศแล้ว รองผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดอุดรธานี กล่าวต้อนรับ นอกจากนี้ ยังได้รับเกียรติจากศาสตราจารย์ ดร.วงศา เล้าหศิริวงศ์ คณบดีคณะสาธารณสุขศาสตร์มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น ร่วมบรรยายพิเศษ และ นายแพทย์กฤษฎา ศิริชัยสิทธิ์ ผู้อำนวยการศูนย์อนามัยที่ 8 อุดรธานี ร่วมกับ สำนักงานสาธารณสุขจังหวัดอุดรธานีและเจ้าหน้าที่สาธารณสุขจากทั้งฝั่งไทย และสปป.ลาว ร่วมประชุม 

Dr. Sarawut Boonsuk, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health, said that the challenge of solving public health problems and the rapidly changing global health system. affecting the health of the people, especially in the adjacent border areas According to the forecast of the population structure by age group during the years 1980 – 2050, it was found that the childhood population (infant age – 14 years old) in ASEAN countries tends to decrease in every country. Countries expected to have a decline in childhood population in 2015 include Thailand and Vietnam. Countries that are expected to decline in 2030 include Brunei, Myanmar, Singapore and Indonesia. And countries that are expected to decrease in 2050 include Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos. In addition, the mortality rate of children under 5 years is also found to be high in East Asia and the Pacific. As for the health of people of working age, it was found that 69 percent of people in Southeast Asia died from chronic non-communicable diseases. As for the PM 2.5 dust situation, it was found that areas in the ASEAN region are still experiencing transboundary dust and haze problems. ASEAN members need to seriously comply with the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) in order to prevent and resolve such problems.

Dr. Sarawut, M.D. went on to say In the past, Thailand has given importance to the network of neighboring countries. and awareness of border health problems in order to create cooperation in driving the development of health promotion operations and international environmental health in the ASEAN region. especially in the border areas of Thailand and Lao People’s Democratic Republic, where both countries have seen the importance and signed a cooperation agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. On public health cooperation (Memorandum of Understanding: MOU) by the Ministers of Public Health of both countries. Since September 16, 2016, to be a guideline for public health cooperation and to develop concrete collaboration mechanisms. which the Department of Health plays an important role in health promotion and environmental health Therefore, it has continuously driven and developed operations with the Department of Health and Health Promotion of Lao PDR (Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion, Ministry of Health, Lao PDR). To support and push for projects and activities that will result in people in the border areas of both countries having good health and environment conducive to health. In addition, Thailand and Laos PDR have also established a pilot city to work at an area level between 7 twin cities on maternal and child health, namely Chiang Rai Province – Bokeo Province, Nan Province – Chaiburi Province Nong Khai – Vientiane Capital Bueng Kan Province – Bolikhamsai Subdistrict, Nakhon Phanom Province – Khammouane Subdistrict, Mukdahan Province – Savannakhet Province and Ubon Ratchathani Province – Champasak Province
“As a result of the past COVID-19 outbreak situation, the operation has been suspended, but when the situation improves, the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health by the Center for International Cooperation Therefore, the 2023 Thai-Lao Cooperation Workshop on Health Promotion and Environmental Health was organized to review and prepare a 3-year action plan (2023-2025) as well as to develop an operational model for health promotion and environmental health. in different cities in collaboration with the Department of Health and Health Promotion of Lao PDR Let the Thai-Lao bilateral cooperation be driven and developed efficiently and for maximum benefit, ”said Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health.