Thailand helping neighbors control Covid-19

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai said he will meet with his counterpart from Myanmar to offer aid and assistance in controlling its rapidly escalating outbreak of Covid-19. The Ministry also donated medical equipment to Lao PDR last week to help prevent an outbreak in that country.

Minister Don also said that Thailand would offer Myanmar medicines and personal protective equipment. He would also detail the steps Thailand took and the lessons it learned to bring Covid-19 under control.

Thailand detected its first case of Covid-19 in early January 2020. Since then, the Kingdom has recorded fewer than 3,600 cases and 59 deaths among a population of nearly 70 million people.

The United Nations has named Thailand among the countries with the most effective responses to the coronavirus.

Thailand’s neighboring countries have faced some challenges and are in need of a public health system to disseminate health information in a wide variety of languages among peoples living in remote areas.

While Thailand’s offer of assistance to Myanmar is a hallmark of good neighborliness and generosity, it is also in Thailand’s best interests. The Kingdom shares a roughly 1,500-mile border with its neighbor and the flow of people between the two countries have been very active.

Thailand has been beefing up border patrols to monitor the Covid-19 situation of the inflow.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also donated test kits to Lao PDR. The Ministry said it aims to support the capacity building of Lao PDR’ healthcare system and foster cooperation in preventing the spread of Covid-19. It is also part of activities marking the 70th anniversary of Thailand–Lao PDR diplomatic relations.

Photo courtesy of http://medicaldevices.oie.go.th/Article.aspx?aid=9875