August 15-16, 2020 at Inpawa Hotel, Banpahi District, Khon Kaen – Tawanchai Foundation for Patients with Cleft Lips and Cleft Palates and Craniofacial Deformities led by Prof. Bavornsilp Chowchuen, M.D., President of the foundation conducted the 8th Complete Service for Patients with Cleft Lips and Palates in Khon Kaen project. Mr. Sitthikul Phukhamwong, Vice President of Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organization presided over the opening ceremony and Mr. Booncherd Pho-muenthip, Vice Director of Population Development and representative of Tawanchai Foundation Committee made a reporting speech.
The 8th Complete Service for Patients with Cleft Lips and Palates in Khon Kaen project was supported in terms of budget from Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organization and was collaborated by Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Srinagarind Hospital, Dental Hospital of Faculty of Dentistry and Khon Kaen Public Health Office, Office of National Health Security Area 7, Khon Kaen, Meechai Weerawaitaya Foundation. Attendants included over 50 patients, their families and friends.
Mr. Boonchoed Phomuenthip said, “The 8th workshop on Complete Service for Patients with Cleft Lips and Palates in Khon Kaen has been cooperated by Tawanchai Foundation; Meechai Center, Banphai, Department of Agriculture Promotion, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen. The budget support is from Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organization, which has been continuously allocated since 2013 until now, the 8th year. The objective is to enhance complete patient care in 5 aspects, namely, health, education, social, ways on living, and power support. In the past, the project used to be organized at Srinagarind Hospital and outside. The target participants differed each time, this year being the young ones in the Tawanchai, their friends and families. There were 15 participants at the age group between 7 and 12 years, 34 participants under the age group 13-17 years, and the rest in the age group over 18 years including the parents, totaling 50 people. Each group has different needs for skill development. The spread of COVID-19 has brought impact on social, economic and lifestyle situations of people in the country and all over the world including Tawanchai family. They need to adjust themselves in the new normal so that they can live sufficiently. Thus, the workshop extended the local wisdom knowledge, enabling participants to build their own occupations. The workshop was run by making Banphai Center of Integrated Rural Development (Meechai Center) and Department of Agricultural Extension and the patient care network. The 5 dimensions of Tawanchai family care reveal that the potential of the patients was equal to normal children of the same age. If they are continuously promoted in thinking, analyzing, awareness, and occupations that respond to changes, they would become a powerful family that can assist in driving the country forward as well as other people.”
Mr. Sitthikul Phukhamwong, Vice President of Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organization said, “Cleft lips and cleft palates are most frequently found in the Northeast. Successful treatment must be in the hand of the multidisciplinary specialist team working together with other organizations. There are not many hospitals that can completely provide such treatment. Therefore I greatly appreciate the work of Tawanchai Foundation, which has been supporting and working on the patient support and care for 11 years. The Foundation is also a center of service, medical care, treatment, operation and rehabilitation of the patients in Isan until the health care center of Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry is the most excellent venue in Khon Kaen. This project enhances the new and sufficient economy according to King Rama IX’s philosophy. There are activities that promote thinking and analytical skills and awareness of young children in the Foundation so that they are able to adjust themselves and live with others happily.”
The workshop trained participants in 3 groups: The first group consisted of the patients aged 7-12 years, their families and friends. The second group included the patients aged 13-17 years. These two groups did activities suitable to their age and were taught about good relationships with others. The third group comprised the patients aged 18 years and over to learn about more occupation such as culturing sprout plants and visiting “Sufficiency mini-farm”, led by Miss Ratanakanok Buapongchon (Teacher Maew) at Thammamue Garden. The conclusion session of what participants obtained from the visit was run by Asst. Prof. Krailert Taweekul. The participants also had a chance to grow vegetables at Benjamongkon Garden, visit Yai Paw vegetables garden with Mr. Prasit Phanbo, and visit green vegetable group at Nongya Khawnok Village. These visits let them see for themselves different occupations that are good and possible as income earning for the family so that they can live in the society with quality.
News: Wachara Noichompoo
Photos: Tawanchai Foundation for Patients with Cleft Lips and Cleft Palates and Craniofacial Deformities
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