AIHD collected data for research project on improving the roles of VHVs from Surat Thani

26 August 2021

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On 26 August 2021, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phudit Tejativaddhana, M.D.; Director of ASEAN Institute for Health Development (AIHD), Mahidol University and head of the project “Policy Options and Guidelines to Reform and Strengthen the Roles of Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) and Bangkok Health Volunteers towards the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, along with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cheerawit Rattanapan, Asst. Prof. Dr. Aroonsri MongkolChati, Asst. Prof. Dr. Orapin Laosee, Asst. Somsak Wongsawass and research team from AIHD, Department of Health Service Support, and The BMA Health Department collected research data on village health volunteers’ working system in Surat Thani via Zoom Meeting. This research project had chosen a qualitative method for collecting data from a focus group belonging to 3 districts that are Mueang, Praseang, and Phunphin. They were divided into 3 sub-groups that consisted of 1. health workers; Provincial Public Health Officers, Assistant Provincial Public Health Officers, directors, health academics, village headman, and subdistrict administrators, 2. VHVs, and 3. patients and caregivers.
The meeting aimed to study components of the roles of village health volunteers and Bangkok health volunteers, according to the components of Primary Health Care (PHC) stated in the ASTANA Declaration in 2018. Moreover, focus group participants also provided information and suggestions about the roles and duties of village health volunteers, capacity building, and support for village health volunteers, including the policy of 3 private doctors. The information acquired will be useful for the analysis of the operating system and to meet the expectations of the stakeholders in reforming the roles of village health volunteers and Bangkok health volunteers for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.