Phetchaburi Soi 7 Declared Bangkok's First Safe Community

[george]

City community tops for safety

Soi Surao (Phetchaburi 7) has been declared Bangkok's first safe community

BANGKOK: -- Residents are protected from crime, accidents, drugs and other harmful effects on their quality of life.

The community has projects and activities to safeguard residents and collaborates with organisations that provide technical support and equipment.

The medium-sized community covers 10 rai and has more than 2,000 residents.

Community leader Supachai Bu-ngadang says it asked police from the Phya Thai station to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor four risky areas, while volunteers and motorcycle-taxi drivers keep an eye out for crimes or hazards.

Somjit Poe-krajen is among volunteers who take turns to monitor the CCTV round the clock. She says residents have guarded against accidents by maintaining the street's surface and the covers of drainage ditches. They have also asked experts to instruct youngsters in the dangers of drugs and hazardous products, plus show them how to practise first aid.

The community has also provided a health centre where volunteers take care of residents' health. Each week it collaborates with Ramathibodi Hospital to give residents knowledge about how to protect themselves from diseases. It also has an ambulance bought by the community's members to serve them and even neighbouring communities.

Another safety scheme involves practising an emergency drill for dealing with a fire.

"Our juvenile leaders are the ones who help us so much. They show our juveniles and children how to live safely via interesting media and activities after they have been instructed at camps," says Supachai.

Natee Kham-in, 19, the Safe Kids Thailand Club leader, says he and his friends have been arranging games with a safety theme and staging puppet shows highlighting dangerous behaviour as part of children's day activities.

"Children seemed to be very satisfied with our performances and games. We also gave youths in our community and surrounding communities knowledge about sex education on Valentine's Day," Natee says.

Klinbunjong Suttitanyakij, 48, a leader of Wang Sai Poon safe community in Phichit province who visited Soi Surao yesterday, was impressed by projects such as the health centre and ambulance, as well as the youth leaders who devote themselves to their community's safety.

"I will encourage the youths in my community to work like these youths," she says.

Captain Chatuporn Ponpugdee of Phya Thai police has witnessed a reduction in the crime rate and accidents since the community joined the safety project at the end of 2003.

Soi Surao is one of 11 communities in seven provinces nationwide to have joined the project organised by Ramathibodi Hospital's Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Centre.

Centre head Dr Adisak Plitponkarnpim believes the community-based project is the best way to make residents safe from harm because people can best analyse their community's problems and how to deal with them.

"The government will encourage people to live with safety by hosting the Asian international conference on community safety from November 21-24 to let Thai communities exchange their projects with other countries, and both Soi Surao and Wang Sai Poon communities' performances will be presented at the conference as Thailand's model safe communities," he says.

-- The Nation 2007-10-02