#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013710

Siriraj Hospital has been successful in carrying out an intestine transplant for the first time in Thailand at a cost of 1.8 million baht under the universal healthcare scheme.

Dr Prasit Watanapa, Siriraj Hospital’s dean of the Faculty of Medicine, said on Tuesday the female patient who received the transplant of the intestines and other abdominal organs did not experience severe side effects for a year since the surgery, and the hospital therefore considered the transplant successful.

“Intestine transplant surgery is a delicate procedure that has a high risk of complications post-operation and is therefore not a preferred treatment,” he pointed out.

“Even the United States, a country which performs the most transplants in the world, sees only 200 intestine transplants per year.”

Prasit said the cost of surgery and follow-up treatment is around 1.8 million baht. The surgery takes around seven hours, after which the patient needs to stay in ICU for five days or until he/she can eat solid food again. After a month of post-op rehabilitation at the hospital, the patient can go home and resume a normal life.

“Although intestine transplant surgery is covered under the government’s universal healthcare scheme (formerly the 30 baht healthcare scheme), the surgery cannot happen without organ donation,” Prasit made clear.

“Before receiving the transplant on April 2 last year, our patient had been on the organ waiting list for almost two years after she suffered short-bowel syndrome as a result of a previous surgery at another hospital back in 2018.”

Prasit added that Siriraj Hospital also has independent funds for organ transplant surgeries in case they are not covered under the universal healthcare scheme, ranging from 100,000 to 1 million baht, depending on the type of surgery.

Published : March 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013708

A cabinet meeting on Tuesday (March 22) approved a proposal from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to extend the Covid-19 emergency degree, which will end on March 31, by two months, or from April 1 to May 31, said a news source.

The extension of the emergency decree aims to enable health authorities to control the spreading of Covid-19 in an efficient and continuous manner.

The cabinet also approved CCSA’s proposal on disease control measures during Songkran Festival of 2022 to prevent the spreading of Covid-19.

The measures are as follow:

1. Vaccinated people are allowed to travel between provinces to visit their families during Songkran holidays (April 13-17).
2. People in risky groups or having symptoms similar to Covid-19 are advised to take ATK test 72 hours before traveling or joining Songkran activities.
3. All Songkran activities must be organized in designated areas approved by the provincial communicable disease committee, whereas organizers must strictly follow the Covid Free Setting practice.
4. Water splashing, face-powder daubing, and foam parties are prohibited in public areas.
5. Selling or drinking alcohol will be prohibited in Songkran activity areas.

Related News

Travel allowed but no water-splashing parties this Songkran

CCSA ignores call to lift afternoon ban on sale of booze

BMA to hold Songkran festivities under new normal in CentralWorld plaza

Published : March 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013707

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Tuesday he wanted all border checkpoints between Thailand and Malaysia to reopen from May 1.

“With Hat Yai Airport being approved to accept foreign tourists from next month, the ministry will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to open all land checkpoints in Songkhla, starting from the Sadao checkpoint,” he said. “Then, we plan to gradually open other checkpoints in Narathiwat, Yala and Satun that connect Malaysia in a bid to promote tourism in the Southern provinces. We expect all Thai-Malaysian checkpoints to reopen by May 1.”

Phiphat said the Tourism Ministry would coordinate with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to discuss with Malaysian authorities measures to be implemented at border checkpoints to prevent Covid-19 spreading across the border.

“Thailand will continue to use the Test & Go system, while we have to see what measures Malaysia will use. We are confident the Malaysian government will agree with the plan to reopen borders, which would benefit both countries,” he said.

“The Test & Go system that we have been using since November last year can detect 85 per cent of infections from the first day tourists enter Thailand,” said Phiphat.

“If anyone infected somehow slips through the first test, he/she will be found during the second test while still in a designated area. Therefore, Songkhla residents can rest assured that opening all borders will not worsen the situation in the province.”

Phiphat added that the Tourism and Sports Ministry has been organising tourism promotion campaigns in Songkhla since the start of this year and would continue to do so until the year-end to attract both domestic and foreign tourists to Songkhla and other southern provinces.

Related News

Tourism ministry wants all travel restrictions removed by June 1 if Covid rate drops

Songkhla-Malaysia border gate lifts after almost 2 years to unleash economic revival

Songkhla school reopening sparks Covid-19 clusters

Published : March 23, 2022

By : The Star

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013701

Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (March 23) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 25,164 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 48 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 80, while 24,770 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,200,521.
 

Published : March 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013696

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Anek Laothamatas, has suggested that Mae Hong Son be promoted as an archaeological tourism destination because of its long history as a northern capital.

During an academic seminar at the Imperial Mae Hong Son Hotel over the weekend, he said the old thinking that the province is remote and difficult to access should be tackled through campaigns.

At the seminar titled “Mae Hong Son model of special landscape of culture and nature”, Anek said he has seen several studies on the province’s economic, social, environmental and historical perspectives. He suggested a “big perspective” study that would create a constructive view of Mae Hong Son and eliminate the old thinking that the province is too remote for tourists.

“It’s good for us to preserve the old tradition of Mae Hong Son for the new generation of Mae Hong Son people to be proud of their ancestors and civilisation, which does not exist in other provinces,” Anek said.

The minister suggested that all sides should join hands to develop “high-class tourism” in Mae Hong Son for tourists to study and enjoy its cultural heritage as the ancient former capital of Shan State.

He noted that Mae Hong Son people have inherited both Lanna and Shan cultures so they are quite unique.

The minister added that Mae Hong Son also has importance as an archaeological and historical site.

“I’ve advised the Mae Hong Son governor to create a special course soon for local children to study outside their school hours about these features,” Anek said.

Assoc Prof Dir Pattamawadee Pochanakul, director of the Thailand Science Research and Innovation, said agencies concerned with research should join hands to develop an education model for Mae Hong Song.

She said the model should respond to the need and chances for the province to be developed with sustainability. She said Mae Hong Son should be developed as a unique and important site for providing learning to the world.

Provincial Governor Chettha Mosikarat said it would be a challenge for his administration to develop the province based on findings by various studies about Mae Hong Son’s history and culture.

Before the seminar, the minister and his delegation as well as other panelists visited several archaeological sites, including the Phi Man Long Long Rak Cave where ancient log coffins were found.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013695

Upon hearing hissing sounds from a parcel, staff members of a logistics firm in Khon Kaen called the local rescue team and were shocked when rescuers opened the box to reveal a 4-metre-long king cobra.

AFacebook user who goes by the name Nev Marley recounted the incident that took place at a Flash Express office in Khon Kaen’s Muang district on Tuesday.

“I got a call from a transportation firm in Muang Khon Kaen asking us to help catch a snake in a box. I thought it must be a pet snake or a [non-venomous] ball python,” he said in the Facebook post.

“OMG! It was a king cobra almost four metres long. That’s not the kind of thing that can be sent by mail. People, please don’t do it!”

Nev Marley added that the sender has contacted the office, claiming he did not know there was a snake inside the parcel he had been hired to send.

Flash Express has filed a police complaint and the sender’s name is being withheld.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/in-focus/40013690

The “Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Bangkok” will be held from March 23 to April 3, from 10am to 10pm, at Hall 4, IMPACT Forum.

More than one million books will be on sale with discounts of up to 95 per cent.

This free-admission event is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors during the 12-day sale. Plastic bags will not be provided to help mitigate global warming. Visitors have been encouraged to bring their own reusable bags from home and maintain physical distance from other people to comply with the Covid-19 preventive measures.

Paul Kanjanapas, the managing director of Impact Exhibition Management Co Ltd, said “Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Bangkok 2022 is finally returning to its lair after being paused during the pandemic. Impact has once again been chosen as the venue after its debut in the country back in 2016.”

The first Big Bad Wolf Book Sale was held in Malaysia and grew steadily each year. Over the past years, the event has toured cities in Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, and South Korea and proved to be a tremendous success.

The organisers believe that the return of the event in Thailand will make it a success as always, given that Impact Muang Thong Thani is a leading venue capable of hosting major international events and used to host the book sale in previous years.

Good quality books from publishers across Europe, America and Australia, covering all categories and genres for all age groups ranging from children’s books, history, and biography to entertainment, sports, travel, literature, home decorating, architecture, hobbies and more will be on sale.

About 90 per cent of the books will be in English while Thai books from famous publishers in Thailand will also be available.

Jacqueline Ng, co-founder and executive director of Big Bad Wolf Books, added “Our primary mission is to cultivate reading habits, increase English literacy worldwide and build a new generation of readers by making books more affordable and accessible to everyone. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Big Bad Wolf Book Sale had to go online as an alternative for readers to browse through and buy books. Now that the situation is getting better, we have decided to hold a physical event at Impact Muang Thong Thani as usual, as we strongly believe in its standard and safety and visitors are familiar with the venue.”

Visitors will be required to provide proof of being vaccinated with at least two doses of vaccine or a negative antigen test kit result for those who are not vaccinated. Visitors are also required to wear face masks and maintain physical distance from other people to comply with the Covid-19 preventive measures.

People can also donate books to the Mirror Foundation. The goal is to donate 1,000 books to the foundation in an effort to encourage people of all ages to read, discover the joys of reading and inspire them to pursue their dreams.

For more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/bbwbooksthailand.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013685

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved 10 measures to help ease the burden of rising living costs on citizens.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said these measures aim to tackle the load posed by the rising cost of oil and the Russia-Ukraine War.

The measures run from May to July and are:

1. 100 baht cooking gas subsidy for state welfare cardholders.
2. 100 baht cooking gas subsidy for 5,500 vendors with state welfare cards.
3. 250 baht subsidy on gasohol per month for 157,000 motorcycle taxi riders who have registered with the Department of Land Transport.
4. Retail price of natural gas for vehicles (NGV) to be maintained at 15.59 baht per kilogram.
5. NGV to be sold at 13.62 baht per kilo to taxi drivers under the “NGV for Same Breath” scheme.
6. 0.22 baht subsidy for people who use less than 300 units of electricity from May to August.
7. Diesel to be maintained at 30 baht per litre until the end of April after which the government will cover half of the price increase.
8. Price of cooking gas will be regulated from April to June and subsidised through the Oil Fuel Fund.
9. Employers’ and employees’ contributions to the Social Security Fund under Section 33 will be reduced from 5 per cent to 1 per cent.
10. Contributions of people covered under the Social Security Act’s Section 39 will be reduced to 1.9 per cent and contributions under Section 40 will be brought down to 180 baht per month.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013684

Residents of a remote village on the Thailand-Myanmar border in Mae Hong Son’s Mae Sariang district were all smiles when a group of doctors and dentists showed up last month.

This is the first time that a team of medical volunteers managed to get to the remote Ban Kro Parae village in the depths of the Salween National Park.

Though mobile medical teams Chiang Mai University and Ban Suan Dok Hospital have been visiting remote villages in the North for the past 16 years, they have never had Ban Kro Parae on their itinerary, because getting there is very dangerous.

However, this time the teams were driven up the steep mountainous roads in powerful four-wheel-drive SUVs by off-road volunteers.

Thanks to the volunteers, the medical teams could visit other remote villages, namely Ban Jor Sider Nua, Ban Jor sider Tai, Ban Jor Prakhi and Ban Por Mua villages, as well. All these villages are located inside the Salween National Park.

The drive from Chiang Mai took more than 10 hours and the teams spent seven days from February 13 travelling up and down steep mountains and past several creeks to reach the villages.

The dentists managed to provide basic dental treatment, including cleaning, pulling out and filling in rotten teeth, to some 700 villagers. They also taught the villagers how to look after their mouths. The doctors, meanwhile, provided medical check-ups and basic treatments to the villagers.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013683

A Thai festival on the theme “Ancient Siam” was held on Saturday and Sunday by the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing.

Some 4,000 guests and participants from Thailand, China and other countries attended the event held strictly under Beijing’s Covid-19 prevention measures. It was broadcast live on digital platforms, including the popular Chinese application Kuaishou and got 135 million views.

At the festival, there were around 20 food stalls set up by Thai restaurants operating in Beijing with around 50 Thai dishes to choose from, while more than 100 Thai products were on sale.

This was the first year of live streaming for Thai products on the official account of Kuaishou, which has some 200 million followers.

The embassy also invited two famous Thai artists in China, Phromwily “Mimi Li” Lisiriroj and Pornnappan “Nene” Pornpenpipat, to lend their support in publicising this event. It helps the hashtag #การพบกันครั้งแรกของศิลปินไทยในงานเทศกาลไทย (The first meeting of Thai artists at Thai festival) to reach the Top 10 in Weibo with 14 million views while the hashtag #เทศกาลไทย (Thai festival) got more than 500,000 views.

Thailand’s Ambassador to China Atthayut Srisamut said the objective of the festival was to serve as a reminder of Thainess, Thai food, tourism, and culture to be memorable for Chinese people, who have not been able to travel to Thailand this year.

Published : March 22, 2022

By : THE NATION