Field Trip Sites

Theme: Sawangkanives (Homes in Heaven): The Best Investment for Future Health

Founded by the Thai Red Cross Society but funded by residents, Sawangkanives is an elderly healthcare facility with an innovative financial model. The word “Sawangkanives” means “homes full of comfort and happiness like living in heaven”, which reflects how the residents live there. The facility, particularly designed for the safety and comfort of senior citizens, lies in a beautiful quiet area of Samutprakarn province near Bangkok, Thailand. A qualified healthy-Thai person, who is at least 55 years old, will pay around THB 800,000 (USD 27,000) entry fee to obtain a non-transferable right to stay in a studio unit. Each month they pay THB 2,500 (USD 80) for services. Once situated in a new home, each resident enjoys 24-hour standard healthcare services, referral systems, day care, and recreation opportunities, such as exercising and travelling – all are available at a reasonable price. For example, after breakfast, a 65-year-old grandmother may stroll in a garden, catch a taxi to the Ancient City, spend an afternoon by the beach at Bangpoo and/or play with grandkids in Bangkok before going back to Sawangkanives in the evening. The facility is more than a place to live: it becomes a thoughtful choice for a senior citizen who wants to live a self-reliant life. When a resident gets sick and is unable take care of him or herself, one live-in caregiver is allowed. If a resident needs to move to a long-term care facility, he or she will be reimbursed 40 percent of the entry fee after a new supporter occupies the room. Sawangkanives is a site to visit for the conference participants who are interested in visiting a full-function and self-financed elderly healthcare facility. Interaction with residents and staff who manage and create this “heavenly” environment enable participants to learn and explore how delighted senior citizens are with their healthcare investment.

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Theme: Best Investment for Health of Thai Kriang Community: Braveheart Lady of the Poor and Gender Inequity

The “Iron Lady” leads street protesters composed of 5,000 female workers who were laid off from a garment factory. The “Iron Lady” is an intimate portrait of Arunee Sritho. Coming from a modest and relatively unknown background, Ms. Sritho has smashed through barriers of gender and inequity of human right to be heard in a male dominated culture in Thailand. Over decades, she has worked for strengthening community and best investments for health in the Thai Kriang community. Her voice has been instrumental in driving national health policy for the poor and addressing gender inequity. Having a brave heart and being a talent leader, Ms. Sritho has been honoured by the Human Rights Commission of Thailand. She has been successful in advocating for anti-drinking violence and alcohol cessation, national health policy development for illegal labourers and community savings account.

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Additional Information:

Recommendation to have early morning breakfast before leaving for field trip

Theme: Stakeholders’ collaboration for mainstreaming policies to protect community by using: Cultural Conservation and Solid Waste Management

Bang Prong Community in Samutprakarn province is an excellent example of how people simultaneously strengthen their own community and also conserve Thai culture. Unlike other policies which are top-down, the needs of people in this community have driven the wheel of development. After realizing that their children and youth would inevitably be influenced by modernization, community leaders co-operated in initiating several projects to prevent problems such as drug or alcohol abuse, etc., which often occur during social change. Besides preventing problems, the programmes also aimed to conserve Thai traditional arts, including Thai dance, mask dance (Khon), martial arts, and music and financial support from various organisations was obtained. As the projects showed positive effects on the local community’s health, greater cooperation and appreciation from every sector including academic, public, and government bodies was forthcoming. The elderly are proud to convey Thai culture to the young generation, whereas the children acquire more skills through creating and maintaining useful activities in the community as well gaining enjoyment. Programmes have been successfully extended to encompass other aspects of health and environment, such as waste management. This community level success has influenced provincial health policy leading to the Samutprakarn Model developed by the Health Assembly in Samutprakarn Province starting in 2004. Currently, this successful bottom-up policy-making practice is being expanded to encompass issues such as food safety, teen pregnancy, diabetes, etc. The practices learned by the assembly in Bang Prong may provide a good model for developing other communities.

Participants who join this field trip will see at first hand, community success stories and how obstacles were overcome in implementing these programmes which have a hugely benefited people in the local community.

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Theme: Affordable Elderly Care Managed by An Elderly Group

Ban Bung Hospital in Chonburi Province provides an elderly facility managed by a group of senior citizens. There are many activities which maintain active roles of elders and encourage get together such as Angklung performance, Tai Chi, Rod exercise, and Thai Massage. The hospital supports knowledge dissemination and provides technical assistance to initiate the elderly care facility, which is complemented by a trained elderly group who operates the facility to help other aged people. The idea is to establish an affordable elderly care for low-income communities and strengthen the role of elders in health promotion programming.

Participants will visit Ban Bung hospital and can discuss how to engage and empower the elderly in health promotion as well as the management of an elderly healthcare facility.

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Theme: Environmental and social sustainability hotel and capacity building centre for disabled peoplee

Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel, located on a long stretch of beach at the northern tip of Pattaya, is a five star hotel in Pattaya with a commitment to improving environmental and social sustainability. The administrators and staff continually implement and upgrade the hotel’s environmental management systems. In 2013, the Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel became an environmentally-friendly hotel and received the Certificate of Five Leaves from the Green Leaf Foundation (Thailand) in recognition of the excellent management of its green initiatives and practices. It also received the Silver Certification Status from Earth Check after sustaining its first Silver Status two years ago. These accolades serve as evidence of their vision and standards of excellence for their efforts in preserving the earth’s environment. The Certificate of Five Leaves is the highest recognition that signifies outstanding performance and the hotel has been enjoying the accolade since 2003. It also initiated an environmentally sound programme ‘from the back to the front of the house’ that focuses on using local products and local services.

Participants will visit the Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel and observe the implementation of their environmental systems management and activities, which also encourages staff responsibility for the environment and society. Participants will also visit the Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities to learn how they manage the capacity in building programmes for empowering disabled people and stimulating the development of children with special needs. Participants will experience real activities and have opportunities to share lessons learned for adopting and mutual development purposes.

The Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities, or PhraMahatai Foundation in Thai, located in Pattaya is a center that places emphasis on building capacity and capability for disabled people. The centre has different capacity building programmes, such as: 1) a vocational school for disabilities, 2) an employment centre which provides suitable work, training, and useful advice, 3) accommodations while seeking work, 4) a service call center for mobile phone companies, 5) the Freedom Solution Company – an IT service which applies a concept of social enterprise, and 6) a needs development centre for children with special needs. It is one of the best disability centres in Thailand that not only provides jobs and educational opportunities, but also develops the full potential of disabled people and children with special needs, which enables them to live in society and lead good lives. It is also an organisation that plays an important role in developing national policies and collaborating with other governmental organisations, as well as other institutes to change or develop regulations and facilities for disabled people in Thailand.

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Theme: Implementation of Pattaya Healthy City Concept

As Pattaya City plays a vital role in economic contribution for Thailand’s tourism, the city has initiated several policies to develop Pattaya to become the world livable tourist town. Moreover, because of the increasing number of residents and tourists annually, it is necessary that Pattaya City provides enough healthcare service to supply increasing demand. Pattaya City recognizes the importance of the situation and realizes the necessity in sufficiently being responsible to take care of the health of residents of Pattaya City. Presently, the local government has implemented the Pattaya Healthy City Concept to improve the health and well-being of its residents. A number of initiatives and projects have been implemented such as “Home Service Doctors and 20,000-bed-capacity Pattaya Hospital”, renewable energy development, community solid waste management, and green hotel promotion. The goals of these initiatives are to bring Pattaya City into balance and promote the happiness of residents.

During the field trip, participants will have a good opportunity to participate in several community health promotion and disease prevention activities. They will also have a chance to discuss how the health promotion projects are implemented with local authority, health volunteers, community leaders, NGOs, and the residents. Finally, the participants will meet the mayor of Pattaya City and his staffs to share and exchange knowledge and experiences.

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Theme: Happy Workplace

Asia Precision is a private company that shows concern about its workers beyond a typical welfare attitude. The company believes that creating comradeship among its employees in a caring environment will bring about a happy workplace. This condition will, in turn, benefit employees, the company and society. The company improves the employees’ quality of life through various healthy activities such as physical exercise, providing organic lunch, caring for each other and volunteering in communities and schools, such as running the Opened Factory for Community Engagement project. For example, employees have a chance to learn the King’s Sufficiency Economy Model in the learning center. Furthermore, they donate money and give monthly scholarships to students, help build a library, plant and grow food for lunch of students, etc. All these good activities aim to encourage people who want to share to others and show gratitude to their mother’s land, Thailand.

In summary, the participants will learn how to create a workplace conducive to improving the quality of life of the employees, both in the present and in the future. They will also be able to visit the learning center of King's Sufficiency Economy Model and explore community experience.

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Theme: Best Investment for Improving Well-being in High Health Risk Area – Maptaphut Industrial Estate, Rayong Province

Maptaphut, the biggest modernised industrial estate in Thailand and the hub of refineries, petrochemical factories, and power plants, is the area with greater risk for industrial pollution. Maptaphut Hospital, located in the area, works collaboratively with the community and industrial sectors to promote health in both industrial employees and dwellers. Chemicals, especially chlorine, cumene, and ammonia, are susceptible to leaks in this area. How the hospital prepares and practices to manage chemical disaster, which typically occurs every other year, will be presented and discussed. Occupational health and safety appear to be another challenge. The hospital has introduced a “walk to survey” and “behaviour modification” projects for employees in the medium and small industries to assess occupational health risks and set up a physical check-up as well as individual behaviour improvement plans. To increase accessibility of people in the area for medical services and to prevent them from delayed diagnosis, the hospital also works proactively to provide monthly mobile medical care in the community, with a main focus on medical screening, treatment, and Thai alternative medicines. These include using Thai herbs to detoxify harmful chemicals in the body, nose irrigation, and massage to reduce muscle strain. The mobile medical care has effectively processed in all 38 communities in Maptaphut area with funding supported from the Community Alliance Group, which is founded by five big industries as a part of Corporate Social Responsibility. In addition, the Maptaphut health database including environmental monitoring data, employee health data from the plants, and community health data is created to help understand the impact of environmental pollution on health.

Discussion topics:
1) Best investments for hospital located in industrial area?
2) Role and responsibility of industry to improve well-being of people living in the area?

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Theme: Youth Investment for Superlative Future Benefits

Inspired by a Thai woman who was born and grew up in the countryside in Khao Chamao district, Rayong province, eighteen years ago, a small book rental store was opened in community right after her graduation from Bangkok. Her bookstore became a weekend venue for children and provided an opportunity for her to introduce other creative recreations. Its purpose has been to instill a sense of homeland attachment among the young generation via those activities. Her strong efforts and commitment to the homeland was the origin of national renown today.

“Good seeds will sprout and grow well anywhere they fall” is the belief behind the project. Under the concept of an appreciation of traditional cultural heritage and one’s own root and social awareness, three main intellectual activities have been developed, which are aimed at encouraging children to be able to determine their own lives in appropriate ways. These activities include the first set of the necessary skills that children need to know, consisting of recognizing their own communities in regard to community history, social capita, local wisdom, and community problems. The second set of activities important to children’s knowledge consists of increasing social awareness, informing social situation, and analyzing social problems. Self-interest activities are the final set of activities that children can choose to learn based on their personal interests. These include learning traditional and modern arts, joining field trips, and attending career training events. Since children’s life skills have been promoted in line with homeland appreciation and commitment, youth migration to big cities for better job opportunity has gradually reduced eventually.

While visiting this site, participants will learn how the ‘Khao Chamao Conservation’ project can involve youth in gaining their social awareness and appreciating their homeland. Participants will also have an opportunity to join youth activities such as soil-house building, alternative medicine from local wisdom concerns, dyed fabrics with natural dyestuff, and community products.

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Theme: Best Investment for Healthy Community

Bann-Song Municipality was established as a small local administrative organisation. It was developed based on four basic principles: including A) “transparent and participatory management”, B) “being a good example and a good role model”, C) “potential development of the people in the community” and D) “put the right man into the right job to strengthen the community”. The collaboration of community residents, referred to as: “healthy community system management by the community” has resulted in successful development, which is well-known in many aspects. One of the highlights of Bann-Song Municipality is the community savings group known as the “Community Fund Management Bank”. The group had only THB 5,000 (USD 170) when it was firstly established, and currently it now manages more than THB 20 million (USD 670,000) and finances a community welfare programme that provides good benefits to its members. The important feature of the Bank’s success relies on the active involvement of local authorities who support the programme. Collaboration between community and local government has been able to sustain the programme and improve the community’s standard of living. Furthermore, the social capital of Bann-Song community has served to facilitate a mutual and collective drive for action, strengthen community residents and improve their quality of life. In March 2013, Bann-Song Municipality had a great honour to welcome Princess Mathilde of Belgium for a visit to this public health model of community health development.

Therefore, visiting this community will enable conference participants to understand the important role of local government support for community programmes. They will also experience how collaboration between different stakeholders can influence the programme.

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Theme: Ratchasan Hospital Integrating Compatible Conventional and Alternative Medicines: Turning Bad Investment into a Good One

Ratchasan hospital is a resort type hospital. Most areas of the hospital areorganically planted with various kinds of herbs. It has been acknowledged as a model hospital providing holistic health care services with integrated conventional and alternative medicines. In the past, the hospital faced many challenges. It was almost closed miss- by the central government policy because of mis-investment. In 2008, the hospital only had treasury reserves worth USD 6,500. The hospital management team and staff investigated weak points and then significantly reformed the services and policies with an aim of reducing overall expenses and promoting holistic health. They have initially decided to integrate alternative medicine with conventional medicine to prevent and treat chronic illnesses. Currently, several types of alternative medicine are provided such as herb therapy, osteopathy, court-type massage, nutritional therapy, detoxification, meditation therapy and art therapy. It is important to note that during the reform period, funds and support were sought from other institutes and donations to launch projects and renovate the hospital. The staff also worked collaboratively with their health networks to promote health promotion policy. As a result, the hospital saved money, gained more profits and established strong relationships with people in the community. Nowadays, the number of service users coming from both inner and outer responsible areas is continuously increased. The staff positively changed their attitudes towards the reformed health service system and promotion of their own health. They have decreased risk behaviors by quitting smoke, doing exercises and eating healthy food. Importantly, they provide health care services for their clients with happiness and a positive attitude.

Participants will learn the successful story in turning from an abandoned hospital to a model hospital as well as the obstacles during the journey. The participants will also have opportunity to try and experience some types of alternative medicine.

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Theme: Innovative Financing for Health Promotion in Thailand

A visit to the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) is not just an ordinary visit to a headquarters of an agency that plays the major role in facilitating health promotion movements in Thailand during the past 12 years. Since the establishment of ThaiHealth in 2001, the agency has been growing considerably in developing strategies, strengthening partnerships, and advocating policies in health promotion. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss with agency staff members who have been working closely with collaborations in order to make changes from grass-roots to the policy levels. At the ThaiHealth office, so called “the Green Building” which is located in the heart of Bangkok (http://en.thaihealth.or.th/contact), the participants will be inspired by an integration of its creative space design, health promotion exhibitions, resource center, and health partnership presentations which will provide a clear understanding in the holistic approach of health promotion (physical, mental, social and wisdom health).

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