WHO praises Thailand for successfully preventing post-flood epidemic

BANGKOK, December 15 (TNA) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised Thailand for successfully preventing post-flood epidemic and will make the world known of the Kingdom's achievement in its regional conference on emergency management in March next year. Thai Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri told reporters that he has briefed the Director of the WHO's South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), Dr. Samlee Plianbangchang, of the capability and success of Thai medical personnel in preventing and controlling flood-borne diseases and the Thai government’s’30-baht universal healthcare program in providing quality services to flood victims during the country's massive inundations over the past couple of months. The SEARO director, meanwhile, said being able to prevent epidemic during and after this year's flooding crisis, which has affected millions of people, is a great achievement of Thailand, reflecting the country’s efficient public health services, covering effective disease surveillance and screening systems, under which flood victims were able to access to hygienic food, clean water and sufficient medications, although several hospitals were flooded and unable to run their normal operations. The SEARO chief acknowledged that the Thai public health success should be publicized internationally to build up confidence in Thailand among global travellers and investors and to be a model for other countries; so, his Geveva-based UN agency will raise the issue at its forthcoming regional conference on emergency management, scheduled to be held in Thailand in March 2012. (TNA)