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Chonburi Assembly begins with grand birthday celebration for HM the King
Chonburi officials gather in
front of the Buddha relic to honor His Majesty
the King on the auspicious occasion of his 80th birthday.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat on December 6 at Ban Sukawadee chaired the
opening of the First Formal Chonburi Assembly.
The Assembly was attended by government officials, local administrators, and
military personnel and police representatives to present their loyalty to
His Majesty the King on the occasion of His Majesty’s 80th birthday on
December 5.
Governor Pracha led the officials in paying respect to the Buddha Relic
before expressing loyalty to His Majesty. The gathering then sang patriotic
songs, and students from Pattaya School No 9 performed a traditional Thai
dance. A toast was made in honor of His Majesty, and the Assembly ended with
the setting off of nine sets of 999 fireworks.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, addressing the gathering, said that after
listening to His Majesty the King’s speech on December 4, he was determined
to apply the principles of the speech to the Pattaya local administration.
This includes being united in work, which is the primary starting point for
people and officials to have friendly relationships and to live in peace.
“This can bring significant benefits for everyone in the event of working
together, and Pattaya City will emphasize that the department officers use
His Majesty the King’s speech to apply to their work for happiness,” said
Niran.
Students learn that garbage has value under YWCA recycling project
A hard-working person receives a
tray of eggs from the YWCA and PSC.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
The YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center worked in conjunction with Pattaya
School No 7 to once again stage its environmental protection project in which
eggs are given in return for garbage that can be recycled.
The project, held on December 4, was led by YWCA chairwoman Miss Dujduan
Ruangwettiwong, along with Nittaya Patimasongkroh, chairwoman of the Love at
Different Ages Project of the YWCA, and Bernie Tuppin, charity chairman of the
Pattaya Sports Club.
Teachers and students from Pattaya School No 7, also known as Wat Nong Pangkhae,
took part in the project.
Dujduan said that this Love Pattaya Love the Environment project was designed to
help spread knowledge on the use of natural resources and to show that even
garbage has value. Students discovered too, that environmental protection is
very much an individual initiative.
The youngsters were walked through the community at Jomtien Beach, so that
residents could have the opportunity to exchange recyclable materials for eggs,
which had been prepared by the YWCA. The exchange rate was calculated on the
value of recyclable materials. For example, glass bottles are 10 baht per kilo,
which corresponds to three eggs; and aluminum cans are 40 baht per kilo, which
corresponds to 13 eggs.
Dujduan said that apart from this exchange, the YWCA had also distributed seven
bicycles this month to students with the highest collections of recyclable
materials under the Recycle Bank Project of Pattaya School No 7.
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
forges new directions
(From left) Dr. Iain Corness,
International Consultant; Dr. Pichit Kangwolkij, Director Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya; Dr. Krittavith Lertutsahakul,
CEO Bangkok Eastern Group and Bangkok Hospital Samui;
Neera Sirisampan, International Affairs Director.
Following a major revision at senior management level
involving the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, Bangkok Hospital and Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya, the local Pattaya hospital has several new personnel at
the helm.
The new group includes Satit Viddayakorn, vice president, Bangkok Dusit
Medical Services; Dr. Krittavith Lertutsahakul, CEO Bangkok Eastern Group
and Bangkok Hospital Samui; Dr. Pichit Kangwolkij, director Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya and Neera Sirisampan the International Affairs director.
The management group was welcomed to the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya by all
staff, many of whom remembered Drs. Krittavith and Pichit from their
previous tours of duty in Pattaya. Neera Sirisampan is another returnee, who
has already settled back into her old office, and has been spreading the
message about the “new” Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
As well as the new personnel, the new direction of the hospital will be
welcomed by everyone in Pattaya. Pricing has had a complete revision, with
the new director announcing overall reductions in prices covering the rooms,
pharmaceutical items, laboratory investigations and medical supplies. In a
current climate where cost of living is seemingly escalating almost daily,
this reversal of trends is a unique industry movement and will make the
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya a market leader once more.
Despite the decrease in prices, the new management team has been quick to
point out that quality will not be compromised, it is still one of the
priority concerns for the hospital.
Also of good news for the Pattaya residents was the return of the heavily
discounted annual check-up packages timed to coincide with the 80th birthday
of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. These packages should be applied for
before the end of December 2007 and used by the end of March 2008.
PILC Christmas Spirit,
a joyful time for our children
Sea Breeze Choir with leader
Ben Hensen
Elaine Poole
The PILC Christmas lunch is always something special and this year
was no exception.
In the reception area, many local vendors had set up their stands selling a
variety of Christmas decorations and gifts, and there was even wine tasting.
Many charities were represented; the kids from the Fountain of Life were
busy selling Christmas cards, orders were being taken for the delicious
Christmas Cakes baked by the Rayong Bakery Project and the Mercy Centre were
selling some lovely stationery items too.
The lunch tables were beautifully decorated in white and gold, and the
buffet was a super spread of international dishes, including traditional
roast turkey with all the trimmings.
 Children
from Baan Jing Jai orphanage are ready to go on stage to sing in the choir.
President Rosanne Diamente thanked the Royal Cliff, and especially for the
wonderful ice carving of the PILC palm tree logo.
2007 has been a great year for PILC. Membership is now at a record level;
the amount of money raised during 2007 is a record and more sponsors have
come forward to help with the many PILC charity projects. So much has been
achieved to help those less fortunate in the local community and next year
the work will continue.
Children from Baan Jing Jai orphanage were on hand with some great
entertainment; the choir dressed in red and white and looking quite angelic
entertained the ladies with a selection of Christmas songs. The band, a
group of 4 young people also from Baan Jing Jai, was excellent and played
their instruments with enthusiasm.
Later, the Sea Breeze choir, conducted by Ben Hensen sang some traditional
Christmas carols. Soon, all the tables were joining in with the singing!
The PILC would like to thank all their sponsors for the major contribution
they make to help the charity work continue; to all members and volunteers
who give so much of their time to make the projects happen, and to all those
in the community who have supported the club’s activities during 2007.
If you would like more information about joining PILC or how to become part
of our sponsorship programmes, please contact Rosanne Diamente, President,
081 865 0714.
Elderly Club celebrates
birthday of HM the King
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Members of the Pattaya Elderly Club held their own celebrations in
honor of the birthday of His Majesty the King with a ceremony held on
December 7 at the Pattaya Public Health Center.
 (From
left) Former MP Chanyuth Hengtrakul, Teacher Pranee Maneesarn and Deputy
Mayor Verawat Khakhay lead the ceremony.
Itthipol Khunplome, chief advisor to the mayor chaired the ceremony, along
with Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay and chairwoman of the Pattaya Elderly Club
Pranee Maneesarn.
More than 300 members of the club took part in the event, which was divided
into two parts.
The first part included prayers and meditation for His Majesty, and a stage
performance by pupils from Pattaya School No 9. The second part consisted of
a country music singing contest and a dance contest, and every member
joining in for a karaoke session.
The elderly folks say prayers
and meditate for His Majesty the King.
Quality of life is as important as a long life
The Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) meeting on Sunday
December 9th at Henry J. Bean’s consisted of another typically full and
varied morning.
 Dr.
Iain Corness reminds PCEC members that quality of life is as important as a
long life, so check your health regularly.
MC Roger Fox was welcomed back after a period of absence and started the
proceedings by welcoming back the familiar figure of Dr. Iain Corness. In
honour of HM The King, the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya has made available a
number of special health check up packages. Dr Iain was asked to provide
advice as to which tests were recommended. He remarked that the quality of
life is as important as a long life; regular health check-ups are vital to
achieve this.
If you are a non-smoker less than 30 years of age, play sport every weekend,
have never visited a doctor other than childhood immunizations and have both
sets of grandparents alive and well, then a very simple general check-up is
all that is needed. You are not at high risk, but it is good to have a
baseline to compare against as you get older. For the Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya, the ‘Essential’ check-up package will provide that good baseline,
and if everything is normal, then a repeat check every two years will be
adequate.
If you are under 40 years of age, but by now have given up the regular
training and weekend sport, you are in a somewhat different situation
medically. Your ‘risk’ category is higher and now is the time to look at
your cardiovascular system in particular. Lipid (blood fats) profile and a
check on your red and white cells and a blood sugar reading will indicate
most major future problem areas. If both sets of your grandparents are alive
and your check-ups have been normal, then continue your biennial check-ups,
but if the grandparents are dying off, then step up the frequency of the
checks to every year, and ask for the ‘Deluxe’ check-up package. There is
also the personal question of sexual history in which case you should add in
an AIDS and Hepatitis screen.
By the time you are in the 40-50 age brackets, physical wear and tear has
become evident. You are also looking very intently at whether you have
become “at risk” from the cardiac point of view. Now is the time you should
be looking at exercise stress tests and vascular screening (called the ABI
or Ankle Brachial Index). This is provided in the ‘Superior’ package. Now is
also the time that you have to apply yourself to correct any lifestyle
factors which are going against your general health. If you are female then
you should also undertake a Thin Preparation Pap Smear into the annual
equation.
When you passed the age of 50 you have reached the age where you really have
to be watchful. From your age factor, if nothing else, you are considered to
be ‘at risk’. If you have become overweight, smoke cigarettes and get no
exercise, then you have a much greater risk. It is the Superior package
again, but if you are a male, then you should add in your prostate cancer
screen, the PSA blood test plus AIDS / Hepatitis dependent on your
lifestyle.
By the time you pass 60, and then it might even be prudent to look at the
Premier check-up package. This checks everything from head to toe. It is
commensurately more expensive, and even requires you to spend some time in
the hospital ward, but if you are having some doubts about your health, then
it might be worth the indulgence.
Dr Corness commented that these recommendations were very general. If you
have been having some symptoms of disease, or have a poor family history,
then it is worthwhile discussing these with the doctor before deciding which
check-up package and add-ons you should have.
Afterwards, Apinya, general manager and Apinya, auxiliary nurse from Golden
Orchid Healthcare provided information on their services. This is the first
organised home nursing / maid service that the PCEC has identified in
Pattaya and which could be of great help to those caring for aged parents or
the single person.
Barry Kenyon returned with further visa information. He announced that the
need to provide credit or ATM information was becoming widely required by
immigration offices throughout the country, not just Pattaya. He added that
for the purposes of the retirement visa application, the authorities were
looking for evidence that the applicant could provide ongoing financial
support.
The usual conductors of the regular Open Forum, Bob L’Etoile and Sig
Sigworth were away this week so Darrel Vaught stepped into the breach. As
always it provided an opportunity for questions about living in Thailand
with an emphasis on Pattaya to be asked. For more information regarding not
only PCEC Sunday meetings but also the varied mid week activities, please
see the Community Happenings section of Pattaya Mail or, for more details,
visit the Club’s website at pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
Free polio vaccinations
for all children under
5 years old on December 26
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Pattaya City is to undertake a program of polio vaccinations for
Thai children under five years of age and foreign children under 15 years of
age, under the guidance of the National Polio Committee, which is combating
the disease on a countrywide basis.
The first vaccinations are scheduled for Wednesday December 26, and the
second vaccinations for Wednesday January 23.
 Anya
Chantrakat
Mrs Anya Chantrakat, head of the Communicable Disease Protection and
Prevention Department, which comes under the Pattaya City Department of
Public Health and Environmental Services said that the program is being
publicized one week ahead of the scheduled vaccination date.
The vaccinations, which are free of charge, are being carried out from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. at 20 prepared service locations, including community health
centers, schools and child development centers.
The Pattaya Public Health Center has trained 120 volunteers to help
administer the vaccinations throughout all of the communities, and has also
organized mobile polio vaccinations to provide service at construction
sites, to the homeless, and to the children of foreign workers in Pattaya
City.
There will be an additional polio vaccination service provided on December
27 for those who missed the previous day’s session.
As part of Rotary’s continuing commitment to eradicate Polio from the face
of the earth, all the clubs in Thailand are also helping to organize this
program, working in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health and their
departments around the country.
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