INHPF Expresses Concerns over the Impact of “E-Cigarettes” on the Health of Children and Young People Worldwide, Advocating for Control Measures to Safeguard Public Health Over the past decade, e-cigarettes have been growing in popularity, with users worldwide increasing from 7 million in 2011 to 82 million in 2021. In particular, teenagers have shown greater interest and use of e-cigarettes. Studies worldwide have revealed that vaping can result in serious health issues. A major concern lies in the fact that young people starting with e-cigarettes are nearly four times more likely to smoke traditional cigarettes, compared to those who do not use e-cigarettes, due to the presence of nicotine as a stimulant. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was reported that in 2022, 2.55 million middle and high school students smoked e-cigarettes. Between 2020 and 2022, the proportion of teenagers aged 14-17 using e-cigarettes rose substantially from 2.1% to 11.8%. This figure was in line with the trend of young adults aged 18-24 whose smoking rates nearly doubled from 5.6% to 21.4%. The 21st Annual Meeting of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations 2024 (21st INHPF Annual Meeting 2024) and Queensland Prevention Symposium, held from September 2-5, 2024, in Queensland, Australia, was led by the International...

ThaiHealth Proposes Strategies to Tackle Childhood Obesity in Thailand at INHPF Annual Meeting 2024, Expressing Concerns over Rising Obesity among Children Worldwide  At the 21st Annual Meeting of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations 2024 (21st INHPF Annual Meeting 2024) and Queensland Prevention Symposium, held from September 2-5, 2024, in Queensland, Australia, the executives of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) joined the discussion with member countries of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations (INHPF) on addressing childhood obesity. One of the serious health issues causing global concern is obesity in many children worldwide. In fact, nearly one-fifth of children around the world are overweight or obese, including 39 million children under the age of five and 340 million children aged 5-19. Participating in the discussion were member organizations, including the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), the Singapore Health Promotion Board, the Tonga Health Promotion Foundation, and Australia’s Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Childhood obesity stems from unhealthy eating habits that affect health, society, and the economy. It has been exacerbated by a variety of challenges such as COVID-19, climate change, and economic recession, resulting in increased prices for fresh food and greater marketing of unhealthy processed foods. The leading contributors to childhood obesity stem from the surrounding environment. In particular, decreased outdoor activities and increased screen time among...

Recently, a delegation from ThaiHealth, led by Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, M.D., CEO of ThaiHealth, and Dr. Nuttapun Supaka, Director of Partnership and International Relations Section, attended the 21st Annual Meeting of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations 2024 (21st INHPF Annual Meeting 2024) and Queensland Prevention Symposium, held from September 2-5, 2024, in Queensland, Australia. The event was co-hosted by Health and Wellbeing Queensland, one of the member countries of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations (INHPF), and Queensland Health. The meeting featured the Meeting of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations, or the INHPF Annual Meeting 2024, which is the annual conference of network members, including ThaiHealth, VicHealth, HealthWay, Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB), the Korea Health Promotion Institution (KHEPI), the Tonga Health Promotion Foundation (TongaHealth), and the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) of Taiwan. In addition, the international conference Queensland Prevention Symposium 2024 was held, which served as a platform for discussing health promotion issues in Queensland and other countries, such as e-cigarettes, physical activity, health promotion among children and adolescents, and social marketing. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, M.D., CEO of ThaiHealth, commented on attending the meeting, “Learning the ideas and practices of health promotion from other countries will strengthen ThaiHealth’s capacity to advance health promotion initiatives in Thailand. We will draw on this...

August is a special month in Thailand as it marks the celebration of Mother’s Day, a time to honor and appreciate the incredible contributions of mothers across the nation. This celebration provides an opportune moment to highlight the significant efforts of ThaiHealth and its partners in Protecting promoting and supporting breastfeeding, thereby ensuring that every child receives the best start in life. ThaiHealth, in collaboration with various partners, has implemented numerous initiatives to support breastfeeding. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing public health and fostering healthier communities. The following outlines ThaiHealth’s key initiatives and the contributions of its partners: Community Engagement and Awareness Programs ThaiHealth has launched several community-based programs designed to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding. These programs are conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, local municipalities, and community organizations. Key activities include: Workshops and Training: ThaiHealth collaborates with the Ministry of Public Health and local municipalities to conduct workshops for healthcare professionals, community leaders, and parents. Community organizations assist in organizing and promoting these workshops within local communities. Public Campaigns: Media partners, including television channels, radio stations, and online platforms, help disseminate public campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding. Supportive Environments for Breastfeeding Mothers Creating supportive environments for breastfeeding mothers is crucial for promoting...

Thai UHC Journey Workshop 2024 Health Promotion: A Transformative Path Towards Sustainable Health and Well-being 4-8 November, 2024 at Thai Health Center, Bangkok, Thailand   Background of the workshop Universal health coverage (UHC) ensures everyone has access to essential health services without financial burden, covering everything from prevention to palliative care. Achieving UHC requires strong, efficient, and equitable health systems, with each country tailoring its approach based on population needs and available resources. Health and well-being are also influenced by social, economic, political, environmental, and commercial factors. The 21st century faces interconnected global crises like pandemics, noncommunicable diseases, economic instability, and extreme weather, which exacerbate health inequities and hinder UHC progress. Health promotion is crucial for UHC, emphasizing equitable and sustainable development and addressing health determinants for substantial health gains. The Ottawa Charter (1986) outlines five key actions for effective health promotion: building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, and re-orienting health services. The 4th Thai UHC Journey Workshop, themed “Health Promotion: A Transformative Path Towards Sustainable Health and Well-being,” will take place from November 4–8, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand. Co-hosted by key health organizations in Thailand, the workshop aims to share experiences, build capacity for health promotion in low- and middle-income countries, and encourage practical applications based on participants’ contexts. Previous workshops 2021 Thai UHC...

In early July, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), in collaboration with the Smart Community Smart Network, held the forum “Fostering Synergy for Innovation towards Sustainable Community Health in 2024” under the theme “Local Communities Join Hands to Solve National Issues”. The event focused on empowering local communities to address issues from the community to the national level. It was held at IMPACT Forum, Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi Province, with 5,725 participants from 530 networks across Thailand. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, M.D., CEO of ThaiHealth, stated that the forum “Fostering Synergy for Innovation towards Sustainable Community Health” is now in its 13th year, which bears a testament to the unwavering power and potential of local communities, contributing to sustainable local communities, self-governed local communities, and livable local communities. The goals include 1. Synergizing the Smart Community Smart Network and the health promotion network through collaboration among local communities, private organizations, public interest organizations, government agencies, state enterprises, and other government entities; 2. Raising awareness of critical issues, leading to the prevention and resolution of problems within local communities and the country; 3. Sharing knowledge on community health practices towards ThaiHealth’s strategic goals; and 4. Expanding unique ideas and approaches for advancing health promotion through a place-based, integrated approach. Currently, ThaiHealth supports 3,618 networks of the Smart Community Smart Network nationwide to foster...