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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/living/40019048

Chanthaburi residents aged 30 and above can register for a free blood test via LINE starting July 22 onwards. The project aims to raise awareness about liver disease, reduce the incidence of liver cancer, and improve the survival rate.

Bangkok, July 27, 2022 – The Center of Excellence in Cancer at Prapokklao Hospital in Chanthaburi Province held a press conference titled “Mission to Conquer Liver Disease” to raise Thais’ awareness about the incidence, risks, prevention, screening, and treatment of liver disease. As part of the mission to conquer liver diseases, the center also launched a pilot program called “EZ Liver Clinic (Easy Liver Clinic) to increase access to timely treatment and to help the Thai public better understand the risk factors of liver disease and improve their participation in screening programs and on-time treatments. 

This pilot project was initiated by both the public and private sectors that are involved and responsible for health promotion and education for the Thai people under a collaborative program called “LEAP (Liver Ecosystem Advancement Program)”. They include the National Health Security Office (NHSO), medical experts, and a multidisciplinary care team that comprises gastroenterologists; hepatologists; oncologists; liver, pancreas, and biliary tract surgeons; vascular and interventional radiologists; as well as Roche Diagnostics (Thailand) and Roche Thailand. LEAP shows the commitment on working together to help Thai people access effective screening and treatments on time, leading to a better quality of life and a higher chance of patients’ survival.
 

LEAP’s commitment is in line with the World Hepatitis Alliance’s campaign on World Hepatitis Day, which is observed every July 28. The campaign goes with the concept of “Hepatitis Can’t Wait” for hepatitis B and C patients worldwide, including in Thailand. It urges patients to not refrain from the screening process or prolong the time until the symptoms progress and the condition becomes cirrhosis or liver cancer. If the patient is diagnosed and treated effectively, they will have greater chances of cure and survival.

It is estimated that 2.2 million Thais are carriers of hepatitis B, while another 300,000 to 800,000 are carriers of hepatitis C , which often do not show any symptoms but can still be transmitted to others through blood, sexual contact and mother-to-child during birth. When the hepatitis virus enters the body for a while, the body begins to build up immunity to fight infection, causing liver inflammation. Therefore, blood tests to detect the surface antigen (HBsAg) allow physicians to determine the stage of the disease and prescribe oral medications to treat viral hepatitis. In addition, some patients may develop liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. This is where examination by ultrasound, along with a blood test to measure the biomarker, once every 6 months becomes very important. 

This picture shows the development of live cancer from chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis

Recognizing the importance of screening and early access to treatment for liver cancers, the EZ Liver Clinic pilot project at the Center of Excellence in Cancer at Prapokklao Hospital is now encouraging people aged 30 and above in Chanthaburi to add friends to its LINE Official Account @ppkezliverclinic and register for a free blood test.

–    Chanthaburi residents living in the Muang district can get a free blood test at the Center of Excellence in Cancer Building, 2nd Floor, Prapokklao Hospital, which occurs on Fridays from 8.30 – 16.00 hrs. from July 22 to September 30, 2022. This targets to benefit about 2,000 people.
–    Those who live in other districts in Chanthaburi can get a free new fingertip blood test for hepatitis B, at the Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals (SHPH) starting August 1 onwards or while supplies last. This targets to benefit about 10,000 people.

Prof. Pisit Tangkijvanich, MD, President of the Thai Association for the Study of the Liver (THASL), said, “Hepatitis B and C infection is a leading cause of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in Thais. Multi-stakeholders’ collaboration in initiating projects related to prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment to cover the population thoroughly and equitably should become an important agenda. It is also very beneficial to the development of the healthcare system of Thailand.” 

Teerapong Tunak, MD, Director of Prapokklao Hospital, said, “In the past, we have detected approximately 100 new liver cancer cases in Chanthaburi each year caused by hepatitis B or C infection. More than 75% of the new cases were in metastatic stage which cannot be cured. If the high risk groups, especially those aged 30 or above, join the screening process to identify whether they are infected, they are able to receive faster treatment and increase their chances of cure right from the early stage. The EZ Liver Clinic project also aims to shorten the diagnosis process of chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis from four months to four weeks, and reduce the diagnosis process of liver cancer from six months to only six weeks. Timely treatment is instrumental in increasing the survival rate.”

Apirak Pisutaporn, MD, Chief of Chanthaburi Provincial Health Office, thanks to all parties involved, including the public and private sectors that join hands in this project: “Since 1992, Thailand has started a national policy of vaccinating people against hepatitis. However, the most concerning group is people aged 30 and above who may have latent hepatitis infection in their blood at birth. In Chanthaburi, there are 344,038 people who may not have been vaccinated and are at risk. It is estimated that the chance of infection could be as high as 15 percent, or 51,605 people. In the first phase, the project provided 12,000 test kits in the EZ Liver Clinic project (comprising 10,000 from the Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and 2,000 from Roche Diagnostics (Thailand)). This serves as a starting point to support the work of medical personnel to discover about 1,800 patients with hepatitis and allow these patients to access treatments. We would also like to invite 12,000 people in Chanthaburi aged 30 and above to get a free blood test at the Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital (SHPH) or local hospitals nearby. They are also encouraged to add friends to our LINE Official Account @ppkezliverclinic for risk assessment and locate the closest hospital where screening can be performed.”

The EZ Liver Clinic pilot project was supported by the private sector, including Roche Diagnostics (Thailand) and Roche Thailand, to help medical personnel screen for risks and monitor liver cancer, in line with LEAP’s effort to increase the chance of cure and survival rate for patients.

Mr. Pichetpong Srisuwankul, Managing Director, Roche Diagnostics (Thailand), said, “Roche is very pleased to be a part of this pilot project to start the screening for risk and high-risk groups for hepatitis B and C, which is the main cause of liver cancer. It is undeniable that diagnosis in patients with liver disease is extremely important. The more accessible to diagnostics, the earlier patients can start their treatment journey; and thus improves their quality of lives.”

“Roche is committed to working with muti-stakeholders in the LEAP collaborative program to drive and improve the treatment outcomes for patients with liver disease and liver cancer. Participating in the EZ Liver Clinic pilot project, we feel very proud to help patients who may still lack disease awareness to get checked and treated in a timely manner. We hope that in the future the incidence of liver disease in Thailand will significantly decrease, and that liver cancer patients will survive longer with better quality of lives,” said Mr. Farid Bidgoli, General Manager, Roche Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
 

Published : August 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/living/40018793

Last week I had the opportunity to be a bird leader for the EEC (Environmental Education Centre) bird camp organised with the Green World Foundation. The youth bird camp lasted only three days and two nights, but for me it was an unforgettable experience. It made me feel very energised and excited about being a bird leader for the first time.

Early in the morning we started birding around the hotel where we stayed. The kids seemed to be a little chaotic, this made me somewhat concerned about my ability to handle the birding activity with small children.

In the afternoon, we planned to go to Ban Pak Phli, which is located in Tha Ruea subdistrict, Pak Phli district in Nakhon Nayok province. It is about 60 kilometres from Khao Yai National Park to the south. It is also known as a migration spot for The Black-eared Kite that migrates from Siberia around November to March. Although this is not the migration season, it is a field and wetland where resident birds can be found and a very interesting ecosystem as well. I was quite concerned at first whether we would be able to go through the activity well or not, but it turned out to be an afternoon filled with fond memories of being among the next generation who were learning many essential skills to know and love nature.

That afternoon made me realise how important the youth are for the climate conservation movement. As they started to learn to be comfortable in the open air, they slowly looked over the vast fields and saw the wonders of the area. Their gaze, gestures, and behaviour made me irresistibly excited. Each of them had a different personality, uniqueness and rhythm. There was Petch, a young boy who is always interested and excited when he sees birds and always has a question; Perth, a bird photographer of the team; Pun and Praow; and Mark, the youngest one of our group, who was quick-witted and brought laughter to our team throughout the day.

The excitement was rising as the afternoon sun reminded us that the day would end soon. More and more, the children kept asking for detailed explanations about each bird. I tried to explain to them by showing them concrete examples right in front of us. While I was explaining the different styles of weaving between Asian Golden Weaver and Baya Weaver, there was a constant sound of excitement from the gang. To my surprise, they started to develop the skill to quickly and accurately identify the bird species themselves.

By the end of the day, there was a small flock of Little Cormorant flying 10 each, 20 each, I added that sometimes they might fly back to their nests in flocks of 100. Suddenly, the Little Cormorant started to gradually increase to 100, flying over and passing us. The children were extremely excited to see such a spectacular sight. Even I was amazed with how unexpected and unpredictable life and all living beings can be. The children’s energy and excitement reminded me so much of myself on the day that I first realised and understood the thrill of the natural world.

Back then, it did not start from an immediate interest in nature. Actually it began with my mixed emotions of being lost, dazed and confused about life in general. My head was filled with questions that seemingly no one could answer. Fortunately, I got a chance to join the Nature Connection workshop led by the renowned naturalist, Saranarat Kanjanavanit. The workshop aimed to help us understand and communicate with nature. The venue was at NuNiiNoi Wetland located at Chiang Dao sub-district in Chiang Mai province. At the five-day workshop we had to relearn and practice how to walk, look, observe, listen deeply, and even taste our surroundings. We had to dare ourselves to open up and sharpen our senses to be more vulnerable and receptive.

That experience with Saranarat was like opening the door to the wonderful world of nature for me. I had a chance to enjoy observing lichens (the plantlike organism made up of an algae or cyanobacterium and a fungus growing in symbiotic association) just like when I was a little kid. I had a chance to explore the creek nearby with all its living organisms, after a long absence from the activity. Most importantly, I also had a chance to spend time with myself surrounded by other friends who had been through this exact same experience. It gradually guided me to find the answers to my unending questions. I slowly found the answers. The feeling of loss, anxiety, daze and confusion started to gradually dissipate and finally vanished.

The experience I gained from that Nature Connection workshop not only provided me with an answer, or short-term skills, but also on the long-term skills residing inside me up until now. Those skills included approaching living animals slowly and paying respect to all living creatures, the skill of being in some natural setting for the whole day without any feeling of boredom since we knew that there always is something we could observe, look at, and deeply feel the wonder of nature.

After I got back from the workshop, I became clearer about my purpose. I again fell in love with birding and observing the living things around me. There were times during my early teens that I refused natural perception. I just kept myself in a car while waiting for other family members to go birding. At that time, I felt I was indifferent and lacked any enthusiasm towards nature and, perhaps, the world itself. When I look back, it is a frightening and scary feeling for me. I started to lose appreciation for all that beauty. I started to ignore nature’s value and the things without which we would not be able to exist as well.

I was so fortunate to regain those magic feelings. I returned to do many activities, some were new activities that I had never experienced before. My life has become a journey of new and endless discoveries. I have become a totally new person. I do really feel that when one feels lost, one can find the answer, by spending more time observing those living things around us. They would provide us with both answers and some new questions at the same time.

Every day will become a new day, just like that morning when I spotted the Common Flameback (Dinopium Javanese) which was a common resident. I spent time observing it until it flew out. The moments when it used its beak to peck the tree to build a nest or forage for food filled me with joy. Watching the bird climbing the tree in order to peck on different spots made me understand about its way of life. Many times there was only one tree but it would be full of various birds for us to fully observe until they left. As the birds eventually flew away, we could still spend more time with that tree by learning more about their plants. This kind of experience transforms our living moments to be a bit of a haiku.

Bringing yourself to be in nature and observe these wonderful living things leads us towards many open doors that would provide an answer we would never expect.

If we need the young generation to be interested in protecting and appreciating the invaluable nature, we need to take them outdoors. That short moment of excitement in nature will be the beginning for them to see, appreciate, know, love, feel love, and slowly lead to the feeling of yearning to protect nature as much as they can. All of this is not for the feeling of being a master or ownership of nature, but for accepting ourselves as a small part of the universe. I believe in that we would find our purpose and our reason for living as well.

By Ploytanya Yindeerak Panitchpakdi

Special to The Nation

Published : August 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40018437

Panita “Rod May” Chawaphatarathanakul was born with a rare genetic condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy or SMA. The disease results in progressive decline of motor, causing difficulties in movement, swallowing and breathing. She requires 24-hour physical care from her parents.

In severe or moderate cases, patients with SMA have to rely on medical equipment, e.g. walking support, wheelchair, respirators, as well as multi-disciplinary medical experts and continual treatment.

Despite physical limitations, Rod May’s intelligence level is no difference to that of normal person. Rod May in her early 30s is currently pursuing a PhD in Basic and Applied Social Psychology with a scholarship. She is committed to helping society, and inspires patients and individuals to live happily.

Palliative care is chosen as the current treatment for her, as she is yet unable to access to the new medication which boosts SMN protein production, restoring muscles and respiratory system. It has been clinically proven to help better patients’ quality of lives and reduce mortality rate. Thus, fund-raising is a way in which we can support Rod May enhancing access to the treatment, so she can prolong her life which means she can further help and inspire the society.

Donate to support Rod May’s treatment access at: https://social.sinwattana.com/viewCampaign/GHQ9OXTWXZI1210
 

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/40017786

Living wage is necessary in the post-pandemic world to ensure workers in global food supply chains are able to afford a decent and dignified life which in turn will benefit businesses and the overall economy, but more must be done to make it a reality, a panel discussion suggested.

Oxfam International and the CSO Coalition for Ethical and Sustainable Seafood hosted an online panel discussion – ‘Battling Inequality in Food Supply Chains: a post-pandemic talk on living wage’. Representatives from civil societies and leading global companies joined the event to discuss how a living wage is crucial to close the inequality gap for workers, especially in food supply chains. 

Covid-19 made it worse 

Suthasinee Keawleklai, National Coordinator of Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN) works directly with migrant workers in Thailand. She revealed that the low wage crisis persisted long before Covid-19, with the current minimum wage frozen for several years, despite the cost of living increasing annually.

“For example, many seafood factory workers in Thailand only earn a daily rate, so they get paid a maximum of around 26 days in a month, but in reality they don’t eat 26 days a month, they eat 30 days a month. We need a fair wage for them to survive.” 
 

The pandemic made these workers even more vulnerable. Many workers were laid off, suspended from work without getting paid, and forced to cram in small rented rooms to reduce the rent cost which increased the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Workers who got infected with Covid-19 also received inadequate support from their employers.

John Samuel, Regional Director of Oxfam in Asia, echoed the situation and shared that at the global scale, the inequality gap has now reached a shocking proportion because of the pandemic, with women and young workers being hardest hit.

“While the CEO and the big promoters have huge profits and huge bonuses, the workers who are working in the food industry hardly get any money to meet their ends.” Mr. Samuel emphasized that the current system is unjust and exploitative and urged that now is the appropriate time for companies to start working towards a living wage.

More than a minimum wage

Cara Flowers, Senior Food Farming & Fisheries Advisor, Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI), clarified that a living wage is more than minimum wage. Having enough just to survive is not a living wage. A living wage allows workers to be able to afford a decent and dignified life with adequate access to food, health, education, housing, and fair employment.

It’s totally unacceptable that those who supply our food and those who bring it to us are those who are suffering the most in terms of food insecurity, poor nutrition and overall poverty. We don’t tend to stipulate what a living wage is, but it is more than minimum wage, and often discussion can come down to what the bare minimum is to provide to survive. We’re not just talking about survival, but about thriving.

Collective benefits for all 

Chok Kittipongtavorn, Vice President of Compensation & Benefit and Performance Management from Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), revealed that CPF has committed to pay all workers a living wage by 2023. He believed that providing a living wage to workers would in turn benefit the company as well in terms of reducing turnover rate and recruitment cost. 

Rachel Cowburn-Walden, Global Director for Human Rights at Unilever, one of the first leading global companies to pay a living wage to all its workers, shared that the company expanded its living wage commitment from direct employees to everyone who directly provides goods and services to Unilever by 2030.

“There’s a real advantage for businesses for workers to earn a decent wage. Economies cannot survive if income is not fairly distributed and if people are not earning enough, then they simply don’t have enough money to put back into the economy”

Challenges to overcome

Despite some progress and commitments from the private sector, the panelists agreed that making living wage a reality remains challenging. One of the key barriers is the lack of comprehensive data which is prerequisite to create a clear and credible benchmark for determining a proper living wage in different industries and markets.

Suggestions to overcome these challenges were made, including that companies should strongly engage with their workers to collect information, gain a better understanding and build their own pathway to achieving a living wage with clear targets. 

For CPF, living wage is a journey which needs time and understanding. It has to be taken step by step, allowing time for adaptation and buy-ins. One of its first steps is to develop a living wage benchmark based on the current legally required minimum wage, then taking into consideration the business’ affordability in order to identify the top up.

Ms. Flowers said “we have a lot of companies with policies at the moment, but let’s put in some time-bound targets and measure ourselves. That means having credible benchmarking, being clear about the methodology and including workers and their unions or representatives in this journey.”

Ms. Keawleklai stressed that it is a positive development that more and more companies commit to provide a living wage especially in countries that do not have a living wage benchmark, including Thailand. She suggested that companies should work with civil society groups and workers in creating the proper benchmark that is fair for all.

“On the other hand, creating a living wage benchmark without credible methodology, transparency and workers’ participation could end up meaningless.”

By Oxfam International and the CSO Coalition
 

Published : July 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40016393

How much does a dream cost? For children living in remote areas, turning their dream into reality can cost just 600 baht in the forms of scholarships, life skill and vocational trainings, and creation of safe food sources, which are achieved through working with partner networks nationwide.

The Community Children Foundation (CCF) under the Royal patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Chakri Sirindhorn has been helping underprivileged children in Thailand for more than 64 years. It has educated more than 42,000 children in remote areas and among hill tribes in 34 provinces in the country to ensure they have better lives and good career opportunities.

CCF staff members and volunteers from local communities go door to door in remote areas to listen to their problems and obstacles, especially those stemming from the economic disparity that has resulted in limited education and limited career options.

All parents want their children to have a better future than them, but for many, it is nearly impossible to earn enough to ensure proper, continued education for their children. This is where CCF comes in.

CCF’s Phor Rak (Planting Love) project has set the criteria for children to receive suitable aid under the foundation’s standards and assigns staffs or volunteers to work with these children by giving necessary guidance.

Your donation of 600 baht per month will be managed transparently to ensure the child under your patronage gets the greatest benefit. Part of the fund will be put towards an annual educational scholarship to strengthen their knowledge, while the rest will be used in programs to ensure a sustainable supply of safe and nutritional foods for the rest of the family. For instance, raising chickens for eggs and growing mushrooms and vegetables will ensure that families have food all year long. The oversupply can also be sold for extra income, especially during the offseason.

CCF’s programs aim to teach children to adapt to the new normal, in which their daily habits need to be adjusted to keep themselves and family members safe from new diseases, thus promoting healthy lifestyles within the community, which is crucial in building an environment suitable for children’s learning and development.

CCF is also committed to providing career training to families in remote areas so they can make the fullest use of the internet and online platforms as earning opportunities. This will also help expand the markets for products manufactured within the community and improve overall economic stability.

All of CCF’s expenditures both within the foundation and those made with external parties are fully traceable and verifiable. The foundation has also been coordinating with community committees and local authorities to ensure efficient and cautious usage of the fund as much as possible.

If you also believe in the importance of education in creating a better career opportunity, please make a donation to Community Children Foundation and let us make a difference together. A small contribution of just 600 baht per month can change the life of a child forever. The donation to CCF is also tax detectable.

For more information, call (02) 747 2600, visit https://bit.ly/3wJw40C or scan the QR Code below

Published : July 02, 2022

By : THE NATION