Medical staff standby for Thailand's ‘Bike for Mom’

BANGKOK, August 16 (TNA) - Waves of blue are expected to fill the streets as hundreds of thousands of people across Thailand join His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s much-awaited “Bike for Mom” bicycle ride, in honour of Her Majesty the Queen, who turned 83 last Wednesday. Up to 300,000 cyclists are expected to turn up for the first event of its kind, launching at 3 pm, with the highlight to be an appearance by His Royal Highness in Bangkok. Public Health Minister Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin said his ministry had paired-up with relevant public and private agencies to provide all necessary medical services. He said in Bangkok alone, the ministry would be providing more than 200 medical teams to take care of cyclists along three separate sections. For the first section, doctors and nurses are being stationed along the route from the King Rama V statue to Saowanee intersection, the second section from Saowanee intersection to Kasetsart University, and the last section from the university to the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters. Simultaneously, Dr. Narong Sahametapat, permanent secretary for Public Health, said he estimated 40,000 cyclists would take part in the celebrations in Bangkok along the 43-kilometre cycling course. He said the Public Health Ministry had set up war rooms to help medical staff monitor and direct all services and public needs. (TNA)