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...

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...