Healthier Thais

[cojones]

'HEALTHY THAILAND': Plan to increase longevity

Published on November 21, 2004

Ministry aims to boost average life span to 81 years within a decade

The Public Health Ministry yesterday unveiled an ambitious 10-year programme to lengthen the average life expectancy of Thais to 81 years from the present 70 for men and 74 for women.

Called the "Healthy Thailand" programme, the target will be to approach the expectancy in Japan, where men and women live until 78 and 84 respectively, said Dr Vichai Tienthavorn, permanent secretary at the ministry.

Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said the initiative had 17 measures that would improve the quality of both the physical and the mental well-being of citizens.

"This integrated programme will emphasise self-sufficiency economics, a stronger family institution and a good environment so that people have better health and live longer," she said.

All citizens will have access to healthcare services and hygienic food, and the government will continue to reduce drug abuse, as well as road accidents.

Vichai said it was more economical and effective to prevent several major ailments rather than cure them when people were already suffering from them,

Among these infirmities are Aids, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, the last three of which are often the consequences of obesity and other controllable factors.

More than 43 million people across the country participated in a mass aerobic workout organised by the ministry, with Khon Kaen seeing the highest turnout of 1.46 million exercisers, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima and Chon Buri.

In Bangkok, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya presided over the grand opening of this two-day event at Sanam Luang and led 77,868 participants in dancing to the music.

Many wore the yellow and light-blue T-shirts.

This weekend the general public can learn about food safety from an exhibition and get free medical check-ups at the site.

Boonya Sakkamnarong, 42, said this was the first time she had attended the annual event and she had come with 60 club members from Bueng Kum district to join in the aerobic competition.

Ronnakorn Angkinant, 40, from Chom Thong district, said he had come every year and really liked it. He suggested that the government should award certificates to participating clubs.

The ministry launched the campaign in September 2002 to promote awareness of good health and found in a survey that 27 million people took up exercise last year. Now almost 10 million people have joined 58,770 health clubs.

[Boon Mee]

So long as the Somtom lady keeps her product out there, Thais will be healthy!

[Dickie]

70/74 ain't bad, what's their problem? I can visualise the health minister talking to a peasant in the field: "This hard life you currently have. We're going to make you have ten more years of it.".

[astral]

I seem to remember reading a report somewhere that the trend is the

opposite direction due to AIDS!!

[dugdig]

More than 43 million people across the country participated in a mass aerobic workout organised by the ministry, with Khon Kaen seeing the highest turnout of 1.46 million exercisers, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima and Chon Buri.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

43 million people is 2/3 of the population!!!! Did the streets and freeways of Thailand come to a halt while 2 out of 3 people stepped out of their vehicles and started pumping air? I did see some people working out in the rice field drop their knives and start gyrating wildly but I think it was only 50% or so....

[TizMe]

I seem to remember reading a report somewhere that the trend is the

opposite direction due to AIDS!!

I would think that the number of fatalities on the road must have a serious detremental effect on life expectancy here.