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Department of Health Strengthens International Collaboration: Hosts Training on ”Climate Change and Health Adaptation”
by super admin • 25 Mar 2025
The Department of Health, in collaboration with the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), successfully organized the Training Course on “Climate Change and Health Adaptation” from 17 to 20 March 2025 at Novotel Bangkok Future Park Rangsit, Pathum Thani, Thailand. This training program was supported by funding from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and cooperation from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Its objective was to strengthen the capacity of public health and environmental officers from various countries, including ASEAN member states, by enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the health impacts of climate change, facilitating experience-sharing on health adaptation efforts, and building a collaborative network on climate change and health. The training featured distinguished speakers from the World Health Organization Southeast Asia Regional Office (WHO SEARO), the Department of Climate Change and Environment, and academic experts from Mahidol University, Chulalongkorn University, and Chiang Mai University. A total of 63 participants from 13 countries joined the program, including 23 onsite participants from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Jordan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Kingdom of Bhutan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Liberia, and Thailand. An additional 40 participants joined online, including representatives from the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam, and Thailand, such as university representatives and officers from the Department of Health at both central and regional levels. The training content was divided into three main components: 1. Lectures covering key topics such as the overview of climate change and health, the importance of addressing climate change and health, related plans and policies, health impacts of climate change, risk management and health risk communication, and the development of climate change and health adaptation plans. 2. Practical group activities, where participants engaged in brainstorming sessions to build an "Impact Chain" to explore the links between climate-related factors and health impacts. This also included experience-sharing on policy implementation and management practices for health adaptation to climate change. 3. A study visit to Thonburi Thaweewattana Hospital in Bangkok, which allowed participants to learn about how healthcare facilities can prepare for climate change. The hospital showcased its initiatives on low-carbon healthcare, waste management, and disaster preparedness planning. As a result of this training, the Health Impact Assessment Division will compile a comprehensive report to be shared with ASEAN member countries and training participants, to serve as a reference and guide for implementing health adaptation initiatives in response to climate change.