The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has boldly announced its ‘Give Birth, Great World’ initiative; a daring drive designed to stimulate the country’s surprisingly stagnant birth rate. The spirited campaign is the brainchild of Public Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, who envisions a brighter future for Thailand, borne on the shoulders of a new generation.
This innovative endeavour seeks to ignite the spark of parenthood among young couples – a spark that has been dimming due to a variety of factors causing couples to postpone or even completely forgo the thought of starting a family. “We are tasked with challenging the misguided conviction that an increasing number of children earmarks a family’s descent into poverty. This is a particularly pervasive belief among those hailing from wealthier demographics,” remarked the voracious Dr. Cholnan.
His vision is to bolster the competitive muscle of Thailand in the global stage by enriching its populace. “Addressing the concerning dip in our nation’s birth rate has been catapulted to the forefront of our governmental priorities,” added the dedicated public health tycoon. He further cautioned of the repercussions of maintaining the current trajectory, predicting Thailand’s population to experience a contraction within a couple of decades, placing it among 23 globally dwindling economies.
In a pioneering strategy to rekindle the prospects of child-bearing, the Public Health Ministry will inaugurate 119 fertility centres throughout the entire nation. The gambit consists of 12 centres embedded within provincial public health clinics administered by the Department of Health; 16 in public hospitals and a staggering 91 in private hospitals.
The clinics are poised to offer consultation and treatment to individuals wrestling with reproductive challenges, thereby fostering a procreation-friendly atmosphere. “Should the balance tip in favour of senior citizens and against the working population and newborns, Thailand stands to confront a demographical crisis. This could trigger a labour shortage, denting the economy and jeopardizing population security,” Dr. Cholnan warned.
Back-channeling his sentiments, Dr. Achara Nithiaphinyasakul, acting director-general of the Department of Health, asserted that the time for action is now. As he pointed out, last year saw a mere 485,085 newborns brought into the world—an alarming dip to the lowest recorded figure in the last 70 years. This clarion call for procreation underscores the urgency of this endeavour as Thailand prepares to usher in a broader, bolder era.
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