Posts published in “Thailand”

The Interior Ministry of Thailand has set an ambitious target to reduce the rate of premature births by 50% and decrease teenage pregnancies through the promotion of preventive measures at the grassroots level. The current rate of preterm births in the country stands at approximately 12% of all births, which is slightly higher than the global average of 11% and significantly higher than China’s rate of about 7%, according to estimates by the World Health Organization. Interior Minister Suttipong Juljarern referenced the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals in a recent meeting, asserting that the ministry aims to achieve good health and well-being, quality education, and reduced inequality. Access to healthcare and prenatal care are crucial for pregnant women, as they can help prevent premature birth. “The ministry expects to reduce premature births by 50% during the 2023-24 fiscal year,” declared Minister Juljarern. He emphasized the importance of promoting prenatal…

The Public Health Ministry has announced the establishment of a new center for Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation (PPVI) through a collaboration between seven medical institutes. The goal of this partnership is to improve the treatment’s efficiency and reduce the mortality rate for children with congenital heart disease. The medical institutes involved in this venture recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a ceremony presided over by Public Health Permanent Secretary Opas Karnkawinpong. The institutions that signed the MoU are the Centre of Excellence in Paediatric Cardiology at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health; the Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Heart Centre at Songklanagarind Hospital; the Cardiovascular Excellence Centre at Rajavithi Hospital; Central Chest Institute; Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital; Surat Thani Hospital; and Hat Yai Hospital. Since 2011, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health has been collaborating with the Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Heart Centre and Rajavithi Hospital to train medical personnel in…

The campaign to integrate herbal plants into modern medicine aims to increase their market value to between 90 and 100 billion baht by 2027. This plan was devised in response to the “Herbal Champions” initiative launched by the Ministry of Public Health, which identified 15 Thai herbs for potential expansion into the global market, according to Dr. Thongchai Lertwilairatanapong, Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTTAM). An academic study estimated that domestic sales of herbal medicinal products amounted to around 43 billion baht in 2018. The Herbal Champions list categorizes the plants into two groups: those that are ripe for further development, including turmeric, green chiretta, and black galingale; and those with development potential, such as kodavan, emblic, plai, ginger, galingale, aloe vera, kwao krua kao, bitter gourd, veldt grape, kratom, hemp, and cannabis. These plants, which feature on the National List of Essential Medicines, have…

Westminster Abbey, the iconic landmark in London, will witness the splendid coronation of King Charles III on an upcoming Saturday. This historic event will be etched in the pages of British history and will be attended by royalty and dignitaries from around the globe. (Photo: Reuters) Their Majesties the King and Queen have graciously accepted the invitation from His Majesty King Charles III, and they will be embarking on a Royal Visit to the United Kingdom from May 4 to 7. The central purpose of their visit is to join in the celebrations of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, as disclosed by the Bureau of the Royal Household. During their esteemed visit, Their Majesties will attend a lavish reception hosted by King Charles, specially arranged for invited heads of state, esteemed diplomats, and foreign representatives. This opulent gathering will be held…

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam recently addressed questions from the press regarding the Election Commission’s (EC) rejection of a proposal last week. The election agency stated that the document did not include any mention of the proposal arising from a Cabinet resolution. Wissanu clarified that he was not present at the April 25 cabinet meeting when the decision was made to seek approval from the EC before providing subsidies for May electricity bills. Consequently, he did not have an opportunity to review the proposal. “It’s likely that the Secretariat of the Cabinet was not well-versed in the procedures for obtaining EC approval and missed some crucial details,” the deputy prime minister explained. “I’ve resubmitted the document to the commission, and I anticipate it will take about a week for them to reconsider.” According to election law, a caretaker Cabinet must obtain permission from the election watchdog before implementing projects that…

In a dramatic turn of events, local authorities apprehended 93 individuals, predominantly Indian citizens, during a covert operation at the renowned Asia Pattaya Hotel situated in Chonburi’s Bang Lamung district in the wee hours of Monday. Upon raiding the hotel’s notorious Sampao room, law enforcement officials discovered gambling tables and chips, playing cards, intricate CCTV camera systems, and smartphones, all of which were promptly confiscated. The suspects were caught red-handed, engaged in various card games and other gambling activities. The eclectic group taken into custody comprised of 83 Indian nationals, four individuals hailing from Myanmar, and six Thai citizens. The intriguing case unfolded as the primary suspect, Sitranan Kaewlor (32), admitted to charging her Indian clientele a staggering 50,000 baht each in exchange for a comprehensive package, which included accommodation, food, flights, and transportation services. Furthermore, Kaewlor disclosed that she had rented the hotel room for an exorbitant 120,000 baht…

During the first quarter of this year, Thailand witnessed a significant surge in its rice exports, reaching 2.06 million tonnes with a total value of 38.06 billion baht. This marked a remarkable year-on-year increase of 29.26%. A significant portion of these exports, precisely 16.38%, were purchased by Iraq. Other top importers of Thai rice included Indonesia (13.08%), the United States (8.62%), South Africa (8.24%), and Senegal (5.86%). Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his gratitude to the agencies responsible for raising awareness about Thai rice development, which played a crucial role in elevating rice exports in the international market. He also urged these agencies to continue maintaining high standards and top-notch quality, in order to preserve the esteemed reputation of Thai rice in the global market. The popularity of Thai rice across the globe can be attributed to its distinctive characteristics and exceptional production quality. In order to further enhance the…

On April 27, 2023, the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (Office of the NBTC) joined forces with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Ministry of Digital Economy & Society to hold the Girls in ICT Thailand 2023 conference. This gathering aimed to provide young women and girls (ages 12-24) with opportunities to cultivate digital skills in the STEM field. Clinical Professor Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, Chairman of the NBTC, had the distinguished privilege of delivering a special speech and overseeing the opening ceremony of the conference. Moreover, Mr. Notachard Chintakanond, Executive Director of International Affairs Bureau, Office of the NBTC, reported on Girls in ICT Day activities and the role of the NBTC in promoting access to technology for young women at various international forums. The event took place in the elegant Grand Ballroom of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Bangkok. Established in 2001, Girls in ICT…

United Overseas Bank Thailand Promotes Financial Education for Thai Children with UOB Money 101: Teen Edition UOB Thailand, in a steadfast commitment to fostering a brighter future for Thai children, has partnered with the Thailand Collaboration for Education (TCFE) to introduce an innovative online financial literacy programme: UOB Money 101: Teen Edition. Since its inception in 2021, this groundbreaking initiative has successfully equipped over 2,300 secondary-level students from 39 schools across the nation with essential financial knowledge and skills. In celebration of the accomplishments of the students and teachers who completed the programme within the 2022 academic year, UOB Thailand recently organised a completion ceremony at its headquarters in UOB Plaza Bangkok. The triumph of the UOB Money 101: Teen Edition is a testament to UOB Thailand’s dedication to empower Thai youth with the financial literacy skills required to make informed financial decisions and ensure their financial futures are secure.…

On Sunday night, a large group of armed men stormed into Dong Ma-i Botanical Garden in Roi Et province, making away with seven blocks of valuable payung wood previously confiscated from illegal loggers. Dong Ma-i Botanical Garden is located within a national forest reserve in Nong Phok district, around 86 kilometers from Roi Et town, and covers about 1,000 rai of land. Under the supervision of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, the botanical garden nurtures numerous plant species mentioned in Thai literature. According to Wisan Kudthalaeng, the forestry specialist in charge, the criminals were estimated to be around 30 heavily armed individuals, their faces concealed from view. The perpetrators entered the botanical garden at around 7:45 PM, threatening Wisan and five other officials on duty. The gang proceeded to use a crane to load the stolen payung wood onto a truck before making their escape around midnight.…