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The major programs, projects and activities implemented in the country are:
| 1. | Maternal and Child Health Projects | |
| > | Thalassemia
Prevention and Control – This project aims to reduce the rate
of thalassemic infants by 10%. A screening with counseling was carried
out in 199,221 pregnant mothers and primary school children or 99.6%
(200,000 subjects) of the target in 75 provinces. |
|
| > | Breastfeeding
Promotion at Health Centers – The Baby-Friendly Hospital Project
covered 97.6% of the target (791 hospitals) and expanded to 68.7%
of target health centers nationwide. |
|
| > | Safe
Motherhood – This was launched in seven hospitals and two
maternal and child health hospitals in region 6 (Khon Kaen) and
in region 8 (Nakhon Sawan). |
|
| 2. | Projects
for the School-age Children |
|
| > | Growth
Surveillance and Solution of Underweight-Underheight Problems –
The growth surveillance revealed a decline in underweight among
school children from 17.8% in 1989 to 7.9% in 1996, but has increased
to 11.84% in 1997. Thus the surveillance project is expanded to
cover 99% of the target group, the 11 million schoolchildren. Milk
was provided to 136,500 primary school children to resolve the underweight
problem, and to 92,400 secondary school children to resolve underheight
problem, and covered 100% of both target groups. |
|
| > | Health
Promoting Schools – Efforts were made to provide better understanding,
better concept and implementing guidelines on the program to various
health agencies and schools. Thus, in coordination with the provincial
authorities, one school per province was selected to implement the
program, and serve as a model. |
|
| 3. | Control
of Iodine Deficiency Projects |
|
| > |
Salt Iodization – According to the MOPH Announcement No. 153/2537
(1994), every kind of table salt must have an iodine content of
not less than 30 parts per million. The 1996 survey revealed that
73.9% of the samples of salt from the household and stores/shops
met the specific standard. |
|
| > | Iodination of Drinking Water – This project is undertaken in primary schools and households with iodine deficiency problem. |
|
| > | Iodine Tablets Distribution – Distributed as supplement in the remote areas with serious iodine deficiency problem, where distribution of iodized salt or fish sauce is difficult. |
|
| > | Surveillance on IDD – Undertaken among primary school children given physical examination for goiter, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) blood tests for newborns and urinary iodine level determination among school children. |
|
| > | Publicity
Campaigns – Though the use of the media and printed materials
purpose, public campaign is undertaken to educate the public about
IDD. Publicity Campaign included projects on: Campaign on Healthy
Diet Consumption” - Good eating practices for Thai people’s
health, the so-called “Nine Nutrition Rules for Thai People”
have been developed and publicized with a campaign on “Suitable
Eating for All Thais’ Happiness”; Campaign on Consumption
of Cooked Meat and Fish – The focus of the project is the
North and Northeast villages where most of the people consumed half-cooked
meat or fish; Walking-Running Campaign on Health for All Thai Families
–This is conducted nationwide in collaboration with the media,
with exercises exhibition for all age groups. |
|
In
addition, the following food and nutrition Program/Project/Activities
are undertaken: |
||
| > | Continue
the promotion of Food-Based Dietary Guidelines in the country in
order to guide the food consumption pattern of the population |
|
| 4. | Nutrition
Program in Health Promotion School |
|
| > | School
milk program with the total government budget allocation of over
6,000 million Baht per year |
|
| > | School
lunch program under the revolving fund provided by the government.
The school lunch policy was formulated to improve student’s
health condition by providing high quality food for elementary students.
At present, the government has allocated 6,000 million baht to fund
the Program. More than 2 million elementary students and more than
0.7 million pre-primary students benefit from this Program. |
|
| > | Nutrition
hot line at MOPH for the general public to access food and Nutrition
information |
|
| > | Website
on food and nutrition information for the public created at INMU
(www.inmu.mahidol.ac.th) |
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