Foreign health experts check out Bangkok’s ‘health hub’ – Benjakitti Park
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) brought members of the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations (INHPF) on a tour around Benjakitti Park, recognised as the hub for promoting a healthy lifestyle among Bangkokians.
The trip to the park was part of the itinerary created for INHPF members, who were in Bangkok to attend the 20th International Network of Health Promotion Foundations meeting.
The meeting was held by ThaiHealth from November 7 to 10.
The event brought together members from around the globe to discuss, stay informed about evolving trends, and share knowledge.
Bangkok’s deputy governor Tavida Kamolvej said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is collaborating with ThaiHealth on the “Health City” project, designed to foster the liveability of public spaces in the capital.
Tavida, formerly a lecturer at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Political Science, said the collaboration focuses on promoting physical activities among urban residents.
This includes encouraging practices such as walking to work, engaging in exercise after work, and promoting safe spaces in Bangkok to motivate people to adopt these healthy behaviours, she said.
ThaiHealth can bring together various stakeholders, including the government, academic institutions, the civil sector, and international organisations to enhance efforts to promote public health with a more contemporary and comprehensive perspective, she added.
ThaiHealth is among eight members of INHPF’s network. The others are Australia’s Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Australia’s Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation, Korea Health Promotion Institute, Taiwan Health Promotion Administration, Tonga Health Promotion Foundation, and Singapore Health Promotion Board.
Meanwhile, Dr Pairoj Saonuam, assistant chief executive officer of ThaiHealth, said the agency was actively pursuing the designation of Bangkok as a city for health promotion.
The primary objective is to encourage physical activities among residents, utilising more than 30 designated areas suitable for such activities, he said.
Dr Pairoj added that ThaiHealth has initiated efforts to extend the health promotion city concept to other tourist-attractive provinces like Roi-Et, Phuket and Chiang Rai
