#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013293

A leading Thai pulmonologist on Friday called on the government to speed up administering booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine after the World Health Organization reversed its previous stand on use of boosters.

Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, a pulmonary disease expert at Vichaiyut Hospital, said on his Facebook page on Friday that the WHO had updated its vaccine guidance on Tuesday and has recommended the administering of booster shots.

The WHO had earlier spoken out against Covid-19 booster shots so that there would be enough vaccines available for third world countries.

Manoon said the WHO had done an about-turn and has urged all countries to speed up administering booster doses to reduce deaths and severe symptoms.

Manoon said the WHO update on Tuesday suggested that people in risk groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and people with comorbidities, should be given booster jabs to reduce severe symptoms and deaths three months after they have received Covid-19 vaccines.

Manoon said only 30 per cent of elderly Thais have received booster jabs and up to two million of them have not been given any dose.

He added that only 7 per cent of pregnant women had received a booster dose and up to 50 per cent of them had not been vaccinated at all.

He said the government should speed up Covid-19 inoculation of risk groups to cover at least 90 per cent of them and give booster doses to at least 60 per cent of them.

Manoon added that the booster doses should be mRNA vaccines that have higher efficacy and are safer. He said the country now has enough mRNA vaccines for Thais.

Published : March 11, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013292

The rising cost of feed has forced some 1,000 small-time pig farmers in Chaiyaphum province to shut down, a survey conducted by The Nation found recently.

Reporters visited key animal feed retailers in Chaiyaphum’s Muang district only to learn that many farmers in the province had been badly affected.

They reckoned the Chaiyaphum situation was just the tip of the iceberg as farmers in other parts of the country were also suffering from rising prices.

Many animal feed retailers have been affected because most of their customers have disappeared, and those who do buy animal feed, do so in small amounts.

The retailers said the Russia-Ukraine war has prompted a surge in oil prices making transportation more expensive, which in turn has increased the price of animal feed raw materials like soy meal. This has pushed the price of animal feed to a price that is too high for small farmers to bear, the retailers said.

Natthaya Setthanawejkit, 57, owner of Chaiyaphum Agriculture and Farm shop in Nai Muang subdistrict, said the prices have been increasing since January due to rising oil prices.

She said a bag of animal feed, which would go for 300 baht before is now being sold at between 330 and 400 baht.

Feed for laying hens has also risen to unaffordable levels, she said, adding that she has learned that some 1,000 pig farmers have shut down.

“I don’t stock pig feed anymore because I have almost no customers,” she said, adding that the government should step in.

Another shop owner who identified herself as Noorat said her sales have plummeted after the price of animal feed rose by 30 baht per bag.

She said there are no new livestock farmers and the existing ones are either cutting down on their animals or have stopped the business altogether.

Yutthachai Saengsai, 73, who farms fish in Chaiyaphum, said the price of fish food has risen by 10 baht to 430 baht per bag.

He said he will have to continue bearing the rising cost at least until all his fish has been sold, otherwise, he will not be able to recoup his investment.

Meanwhile, an animal feed manufacturer said on Friday that their production costs have risen, and they have had to increase prices accordingly. He said since December, the global price of corn has risen 14 per cent and wheat 43 per cent. In Thailand, the price of corn has risen from 10.05 baht per kilogram in December to 12.65 baht per kilo this month. The price of imported wheat has risen from 8.91 baht to 12.75 baht per kilo and soybean from 19.50 baht to 22.5 baht per kilogram during the same period.

Published : March 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013291

Chulalongkorn University’s Universal Design Centre and its partners held the first national academic conference on Universal design on Friday in a bid to raise awareness of making public spaces accessible to everybody.

The event was held both onsite at the ThaiHealth Centre on Sathorn Road and online via Zoom and Facebook Live.

Universal design involves adjusting buildings, products or surroundings to improve the quality of life of all groups in society, especially the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Wiriya Namsiripongpan, president of the Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities, said universal design was introduced when the United Nations implemented its social-inclusion policy.

The social-inclusion policy focuses on enabling persons with disabilities to use services, interact with others and conduct activities like everybody else.

“For instance, tactile warnings should be set up on footpaths to help the visually impaired learn what lies ahead, just as slippery path, intersections, trees or holes,” he said. “Meanwhile, the hearing impaired need sign language to help them use services at venues like airports and train stations.”

He added that descriptions, embossed images, braille and audio announcements are necessary for persons with disabilities to access information.

Wiriya added that the online sign-language interpretation service, developed by the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology, is already helping those with impaired hearing with things like travel or bargaining using just a smartphone.

He added that though Thailand’s application of universal design is at a fair level, problems in buildings still persist. Hence he advised the government to develop infrastructure that serves everybody.

Separately, Takayasu Shimada, president of sanitary ware manufacturer TOTO (Thailand), said his company also wants to contribute to the development of Thai society.

Shimada said his company’s universal design toilet promotion aims to create an environment where people can leave their homes knowing that clean toilets will be freely available. He said this will help revitalise Thailand’s tourism sector and generate revenue for the country.

“To achieve this, the company needs cooperation from relevant agencies,” he said, adding the company was ready to provide know-how, consultation and after-sales services.

Admitting that not all Japanese universal ideas are applicable in Thailand, he said ideas should be created based on society, laws, culture and ergonomics.

He explained that toilets in Thailand have three key problems with universal design, including inappropriate or unnecessary products, missing items or wrong positioning and dimension.

“In this regard, the company is focusing on clarifying the objective and target, including building characteristics, target users and clarifying the goal,” he said.

“We must also carefully consider and realise valuable plans on restroom renovations, as it will be used for 15 to 30 years once renovated,” he added.

Published : March 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013290

The government has promised to do everything in its power to maintain the price of diesel oil at no higher than 30 baht per litre, as fuel prices hit their highest levels in 14 years following the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said on Friday that the Energy and Finance ministries, as well as the National Economic and Social Development Council, are considering different measures to cushion the impact from the soaring fuel prices.

“The three agencies are preparing additional measures in case the situation persists. We are looking for additional measures besides maintaining diesel price at not more than 30 baht per litre,” he said.

Supattanapong, who also doubles as deputy prime minister, said the government was closely following changes in diesel oil prices to be ready with appropriate measures.

“Petrol prices are now the highest in 14 years. There was some decrease but the prices are still fluctuating. So, we must remain cautious. The government will find ways to do the best we can,” he said.

According to the energy minister, there will be measures for different price ranges in the global oil market — for crude oil over $100 a barrel, $101-130 a barrel, $131-150 a barrel, and over $150 a barrel.

In response to a proposal that part of the 500-billion-baht loan to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic should be spent in subsidising domestic oil prices, Supattanapong said that would be unlawful, as the decree that allows the government to borrow clearly states the loan must be for easing the impact of Covid-19 on healthcare and the economy.

Published : March 11, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013289

The Thai embassy in Warsaw checked with the Ukraine Red Cross about items in urgent need in the war-hit country and bought the required supplies on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The Thai government has granted humanitarian aid worth Bt2 million to the Ukraine Red Cross, the ministry.

The ministry posted on its website that it has allocated Bt2 million, or about US$60,000, to the Thai embassy in Warsaw to buy necessary items for Ukrainians via the country’s Red Cross.

The bought items included dried foods, blankets, sleeping bags, necessities for babies, sanitary products and first-aid kits.

The ministry said the items would be gradually sent to the Ukraine Red Cross to be distributed to the people affected by the fighting with Russian forces.

In 2019, the Thai government had granted Bt1 million worth of humanitarian and medical aid to displaced people from eastern Ukraine via the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Foreign Ministry added.

Published : March 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013288

A recent survey conducted by two consumer groups and a magazine learned that most citrus fruits and orange juices on supermarket shelves have unsafe levels of pesticide residue.

The survey was conducted by the Thailand Consumer Council, the Thailand Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN) and the Smart Buy magazine from January 3 to 30.

The group collected samples of 60 tangerines and oranges and 10 types of orange juice from wholesale markets, department stores, convenience stores and online stores.

The samples were then sent for multi-residue analysis to the TUV SUD laboratory in Italy to check for 567 residue types.

Thassanee Naenudorn, deputy director of the Thailand Consumer Council and editor of Smart Buy magazine, said 57 of the 60 oranges and tangerines sampled had unsafe levels of pesticide residue.

Only three samples were found to be relatively safe, namely:

• Green tangerine (khiew wan) from Big C Bang Yai

• Murcott orange from Gourmet Market

• Mandarin orange from online seller Su Premium Fruits

Of the 10 boxed orange juice sampled, five were found to be free of toxic residue, namely:

• Tipco Shogun

• UFC 100% orange juice

• Malee 100% tangerine juice from Mae Sin farm

• Sunfresh

• Harvey Fresh

The five samples found to be contaminated were:

• ARO 100% khiew wan tangerine juice

• Chabaa 100% sai nam phueng (honey) tangerine juice

• Doi Kham 98% orange juice

• Green Garden 100% orange juice

• Smile 100% khiew wan tangerine juice

Parokchon Usup, coordinator with Thai-PAN, said the survey found that all 41 samples of locally grown tangerines and 16 samples of imported oranges were found to have higher than safe levels of pesticide.

He also pointed out that 12 of the tangerine samples had come from farms that have won the Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) standard.

Citing these findings, the consumer groups have called on the Agriculture Ministry to crack down on smugglers of illegal pesticides. It has also been urged to revamp its GAP standards so the public can be sure that products with the GAP stamp are actually safe. They also said the ministry should promote organic farming practices.

They also urged the Public Health Ministry to stringently check for pesticide in fruits at the customs checkpoints, as well as boost the safety standard for boxed orange juice to better protect the public, especially those with chronic conditions.

They also called on supermarkets and retailers to use a traceability system for the fruits they stock to better protect their customers.

Published : March 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013287

Online criminals are using digitally manipulated video clips to trick people into transferring money, police have warned.

Deputy police spokesman Pol Colonel Siriwat Deephor said on Friday that so-called “call centre gangs” have adopted the “Deepfake” technology to convince their potential victims that they are getting a video call from a police officer.

In a recent incident, scammers used a publicly available video clip of a police officer giving an interview and superimposed the lower part of his face to look like the policeman was speaking to a potential victim.

The person who received the call was convinced enough to transfer a large sum of money to the scammer, Siriwat said.

Deepfake technology uses a form of artificial intelligence called deep learning to make images and videos of fake events. It has caused much controversy over the past few years, with clips of international celebrities and politicians being manipulated to appear in pornographic clips or making comments they never did.

There have been cases in which call-centre scammers, posing as police officers, told their potential victims that their bank accounts were being investigated as part of a criminal case and that they needed to transfer their money to a certain account for examination.

The spokesman said the Royal Thai Police has no policy in which investigators call suspects, defendants or victims asking for money transfers. He said any such call should be treated with suspicion.

People are advised to call 191 or the Royal Thai Police 1599 hotline if they notice suspicious scams.

Published : March 11, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013284

Nan Hospital on Friday unveiled its novel antigen test kit (ATK) vending machines for public use amid the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Nan province.

The hospital director, Dr Achara Laongnaulpanich, said they decided to install the ATK vending machines so that visitors could test themselves before seeing patients.

The hospital’s goal is to offer visitors convenience in accessing ATKs and at the low price of 50 baht each. It is convenient and easy to use and even a small child can operate it, Achara said. The vending machine has a touch screen and users can insert banknotes to buy ATKs.

The ATK vending machines could reduce the risk for medical personnel at the hospital, as the machines can stock up to 600 ATKs per day. They were modified from normal vending machines and are receiving a lot of attention from visitors, as they could test themselves before entering the hospital or take the ATK home, the director said.

The vending machines have been installed at the front of Nan Hospital 1 and Nan Hospital 2 for use by the general public.

Published : March 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

The government has slashed the yearly budget for taking care of rescued wild animals from 90 million baht to just 10 million baht, prompting the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to seek food donations from wholesale giant Siam Makro.

Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said 10 million baht per year is not enough for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNPWPC) to feed some 26,000 rescued wild animals under its care.

Hence, he said, the ministry has had to call on private firms for help and that Siam Makro has agreed to donate vegetables, fruits and other fresh food that has expired to feed the animals.

So far, it has delivered the so-called food waste to 23 wildlife nurseries, three wildlife rescue centres and at Bueng Chawak Wildlife Management Centres located near Makro malls, Varawut said.

In a Facebook post, the minister said he would also call on other supermarkets to donate their food waste to feed wild animals. Help from the public is also welcome, he said, adding that this would drastically reduce food waste that is disposed of with other garbage.

The minister lamented that though the budget has been slashed to practically nothing, the number of wild animals rescued has increased. He said the department normally requires about 55 million baht a year to take care of the animals seized in wildlife poaching cases.

Varawut said the department is having to use funds set aside for other purposes and income from entrance fees to take care of these animals.

“In 2021, the department earned 16 million baht from entrance fees and most of it was spent taking care of wild animals,” Varawut said, adding that many of the wild animals under the department’s care cannot be released to wilderness.

“For instance, the Bengal and Siberian tigers seized from the Luang Ta Bua temple [Kanchanaburi’s Tiger Temple] cannot be released into the wild because they were tamed. Now, we have 46 of them and will have to feed them for the rest of their lives,” Varawut said.

He added that some rescued animals, like wild elephants, are returned to the forest after rehabilitation.

Published : March 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013278

Animal feed manufacturers are set to call on the Commerce Ministry to remove animal feed from the list of controlled products and let the price be determined by market mechanisms. The price should also reflect the actual production costs, a news source said on Friday.

“Feed manufacturers are suffering from rising costs due to the Russia-Ukraine war,” the source said. “The two countries are the world’s biggest suppliers of corn and wheat, which are the main ingredients of animal feed.”

The source pointed out that since December, the global price of corn has risen 14 per cent and wheat 43 per cent. In Thailand, the price of corn has risen from 10.05 baht per kilogram in December to 12.65 baht per kilo this month. The price of imported wheat has risen from 8.91 baht to 12.75 baht per kilo and soybean from 19.50 baht to 22.5 baht per kilogram during the same period.

As part of a price guarantee scheme for farmers, the government has only set the floor price for corn at 8.5 baht per kilogram. However, it did not set a ceiling price, which means the price of corn could soar and boost the cost of producing animal feed. However, manufacturers cannot raise prices because animal feed is a controlled item.

“If the Russia-Ukraine war persists, animal feed manufacturers may have to consider temporarily halting production to prevent losses. The government needs to immediately roll out aid measures or risk a shortage of animal feed, which will affect the animal farming industry, price of meat and people’s cost of living,” the source said.

Related News

Thai livestock farmers cry for help as price of animal feed skyrockets

CPF acquires stake in Chinese animal feed firm

CP Foods pushes ‘3C platform’ for sustainable growth of Thai broiler industry

Published : March 11, 2022

By : THE NATION