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Well-being by Design Inside the Model City: Nurturing Thai Children’s Development Safeguarding children and youth must begin in early childhood. Today’s children are growing up amid constant change, and numerous health risks. In a world of fast-paced technology, screen time has become a normal part of children’s lives, reducing physical activity and contributing to developmental delays. Diets high in sugar, fat, and salt contribute to early onset of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), while the prevalence of e-cigarettes poses a daunting challenge. Nurturing Thai children’s well-being is not simple, but it calls for urgent action. Recently, members of ThaiHealth’s 8th Plan Executive Committee took part in a field visit to the “United in Spirit, Building Well-being Together” (Huam Jai Huam Kor Suk) model area in Lampang Province. This showcased how ThaiHealth’s network partners united all sectors to build healthy spaces for children efficiently, delivering notable results in nurturing Thai children’s development and building resilience against various risk factors. Early Childhood: Fostering Spiritual Health Enhancing Communication Skills for Healthy Development The Ban Tha Pong Child Development Center, managed by Soem Sai Subdistrict Municipality, is recognized as a model for promoting reading for children’s well-being. A supportive environment has been established, and both parents and local leaders recognize the benefits of reading. This has empowered them to read to children four times...
VOICE OF THE VOICELESS #3 Count Us In Synergize Efforts, Spark Innovations, Spread Well-being Uniting Health Partnerships: Together in Equality “Health Partnerships” Understanding, Access, Equality The Voice of the Voiceless: A Voice All Must Hearwith Compassion Our society comprises different kinds of people, yet, regardless of status, everyone should enjoy the opportunity and the right to a good quality of life, with equitable access to basic necessities. Over the past 14 years, ThaiHealth has joined hands with network partners to support nine vulnerable groups in reducing health inequalities among those populations: “older persons, persons with disabilities, the homeless, informal workers, migrant populations, LGBTIQN+ individuals, prisoners, and Muslim communities.” These populations are often neglected or overlooked, and their voices seek nothing more than equal opportunity, thereby contributing to policy change and eliminating marginalization that strips them of dignity and recognition in society. The 3rd Academic and Knowledge-Sharing Conference, “Voice of the Voiceless: The Vulnerable Populations,” was held under the theme “Uniting Health Partnerships: Together in Equality.” ThaiHealth acted as a vital bridge to unite 4,000 participants from nine vulnerable population network partners in sharing insights and practical experiences. “Health partnership” means joining efforts to drive change, enabling vulnerable populations to access rights and welfare, thereby achieving equity systematically. This calls for collaboration among all sectors. The event featured a...
ThaiHealth Kicks Off “the Global Health Training Program” Aiming to Enhance Organization Capability to Drive Global Health Agenda On February 4, 2025, The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has kicked off its Global Health Training Program 2025 (GHTP2025) jointly developed by the Partnership and International Relations Section and the Human Resources Unit. The program aims to enhance staff capacity and organization capabilities in global health, with a focus on equipping ThaiHealth to effectively engage with and contribute to the global health arena in a systematic and practical manner. The GHTP2025 program incorporates the INNE model for capacity development (comprising of building capacity at Individual, Node, Network, and Supportive Environment levels). It is specifically designed to build individual competencies through learning and hands-on experience in international affairs (Individual); empower their affiliated departments to engage effectively at the international level (Node); foster networks within and outside ThaiHealth (Network); and create an environment conducive to advancing global health learning (Environment). This program could also serve as a model for other agencies to integrate health knowledge with international engagement effectively through learning, hands-on practice, and expert networking. In initiating this policy, Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, M.D., CEO of ThaiHealth, reaffirms his commitment to building the international competencies of ThaiHealth personnel to advance and contribute to health promotion in line with the organization’s strategic goals while...
IR MOVEMENT
From September 1–3, 2025, at the Amara Hotel, Singapore, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), in its role as Secretariat and member of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations (INHPF), participated in the “INHPF Annual Meeting & Symposium 2025,” organized by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) Singapore under the theme “Inspiring Healthier Living: Challenging Conventions with Bold Solutions.” In addition to the 9 full members of the INHPF, The meeting convened health promotion leaders from the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and global partners, including the World Health Organization – Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO), Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), PROGGA from Bangladesh, Health Promotion Centre Brunei Darussalam, Ministry of Health Vanuatu, Ministry of Health Kenya, International Institute for Legislative Affairs (Kenya), and McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer (Australia). The INHPF Network also officially welcomed new associate members: the Ministry of Health Malaysia, PROGGA (Bangladesh), Health Promotion Centre Brunei, McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer (Australia), and the Sarawak State Health Department (Malaysia). This expansion reflects INHPF’s growing role as a key platform connecting international practices and policies in health promotion. Platform for Knowledge Exchange and Cooperation The INHPF Annual Meeting & Symposium 2025 served as a platform bringing together global health promotion leaders to exchange knowledge, foster cooperation, and set future directions, while strengthening ties among member organiztions. Key...
ThaiHealth unites strategic partners to organize “The 14th Southern Well-being Forum,’ gathering 4,000 partners and 137 networks across 14 southern provinces, driving well-being in 4 dimensions under the theme: ’20 Years Awakening Southern Ways towards Future Well-being. On August 18-19, 2025, at the Main Conference Hall, Prince of Songkla University, Trang Campus, Trang Province, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) joined forces with the National Health Commission Office (NHCO), the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), the Community Organizations Development Institute (CODI), the Trang Provincial Administrative Organization, Trang Health Assembly, and Prince of Songkla University to organize “The 14th Southern Well-being Forum.’ This forum was held to reflect on two decades of building well-being networks in the South of Thailand and to define new directions for its sustainability. Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, CEO of ThaiHealth, delivered the opening address, stating that the event was not only an exchange platform but also a ‘central mechanism’ enabling networks to join forces across areas and issues to find solutions to the South’s complex problems. Looking back to 2006, the forum began as the ‘Show, Share, Connect’ forum to open space for community partners, civil society, and local agencies to share experiences and connect. It later advanced with the Health Assembly tool, allowing social power, knowledge, and policy to converge,...
From the Heart of the CEO Greetings to Our Partners in Health Promotion If inequality, disability, homelessness, or poverty did not exist, it would be an ideal world for many to live in. Yet, in reality, under capitalism, inequality stems from various factors, such as gender, age, socio-economic background, occupation, health, and place of residence. Such differences contribute to the persistence of “inequality.” Most disabilities are not a matter of choice but may be present at birth or caused by accidents or unforeseen illnesses, leading to differences and inequality. As is often said, you will never truly understand persons with disabilities unless you are one. The same applies to prisoners—whether through deliberate action or misstep—who have no choice in their birth. Similarly, the ethnic groups experience disadvantages simply as they are the minority; had they been the majority, their culture and identity might have shaped the nation. The same is true for migrant populations who often have no choice but to leave their homeland in pursuit of a better life. Members of LGBTIQN+, once heavily stigmatized, were unable to express their true selves, resulting in mental imprisonment. Meanwhile, informal workers, regardless of being Thai nationals, may be denied certain rights. This is also true for Muslim communities with distinct health risks...
IR Highlight
“The strength of the southern network is that it owns the issues, designs operations to create change, and addresses health challenges according to its own context. As a strategic supporter, ThaiHealth is pleased to see networks uniting to connect funding sources and support from all sectors, working across issues and across areas to lead the South toward sustainable well-being.” Prakasit Kayasith, Senior Assistant CEO and Acting Director of the Partnership and International Relations Section, ThaiHealth Source: The 14th Southern Well-being Forum, August 18-19, 2025, at the Main Conference Hall, Prince of Songkla University, Trang Campus, Trang Province
ThaiHealth Advances the “Alcohol-Free Buddhist Lent 2025” Campaign: Empowering Mindfulness, Healthy Living, Reducing Alcohol Risks and moving towards Sustainable Well-being The annual Buddhist Lent has marked a meaningful period where many Thais take the opportunity to “abstain from alcohol” to revitalize their physical and mental health as well as strengthen family relationships. In 2025, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has launched the “Season of Mindfulness: Alcohol-Free Buddhist Lent 2025” campaign guided by the concept “Mindful and Joyful on Every Occasion.” The initiative draws on cultural values and social campaign strategies to bring about a sustained decline in alcohol consumption among Thais. Campaign: “Mindful and Joyful on Every Occasion” Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, M.D., CEO of ThaiHealth, explained that this year’s Alcohol-Free Buddhist Lent is designed not only to promote short-term alcohol abstinence among people but also to achieve “long-term change” in their drinking behaviors. Therefore, ThaiHealth has broadened its campaign to promote continuous alcohol abstinence during all festivals, inviting people of all religions to join for their own health, their families, and their loved ones. Notably, this campaign is comparable to the international campaigns such as “Dry January” in the United Kingdom or “Dry July” in Australia. However, the uniqueness of the Thai campaign lies in its use of the Buddhist Lent period, which lasts three months and is deeply...
Somsak Directs ThaiHealth to Raise Awareness on E-Cigarettes to Protect Children and Youth Reaffirming the government’s stance against e-cigarettes, Somsak has assigned ThaiHealth to coordinate efforts with relevant agencies to address existing gaps. He expresses concerns over the deadly risks of “pod k” and approves the Centre for Alcohol Studies’ plan to advance knowledge, reshape societal values, and promote alcohol-free events. On February 27, 2025, at the ThaiHealth Center, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), Mr. Somsak Thepsutin, Minister of Public Health and First Deputy Chairman of ThaiHealth, stated at the second board meeting of the year that the board approved the Centre for Alcohol Studies’ plan, focusing on enhancing capacity among personnel and expert networks and developing knowledge to advance various policies. Key policies include developing and enforcing the laws controlling the alcohol production and distribution by small-scale manufacturers, assessing the policy impact of major alcohol producers, promoting responsible behavior among youth and women, implementing alcohol-free policies for government events, improving access to alcohol cessation services, and supporting research and knowledge creation to push for practical and effective solutions to alcohol-related issues. “Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s government prioritizes the issue of e-cigarettes, which have been prevalent among children and youth. The Prime Minister has ordered relevant agencies to implement stringent measures within 30 days. The directive enforces a ban...