Monday, September 4, 2023
The School of Public Health at the University of Phayao has established a local herbal learning center for health as part of the "1 Community 1 Innovation" project. This initiative aligns with the university's policy, which emphasizes "Wisdom for Community Empowerment" and envisions sustainable community development through knowledge creation for community innovation on a global scale. The University of Phayao is a leading educational institution in the field of local community development, with a focus on developing learning spaces within communities to promote societal well-being.
In this event, the honor of opening the project was granted by the President of the University of Phayao, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supakorn Pongbangpho. The university's executives who participated in this ceremony included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Direk Teeraputon, Vice President for Finance and University Communications; Dr. Wuttichai Chairincome, Vice President for Student Affairs; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suwit Punyawong, Vice President for Environment and Landscape; Mrs. Nattida Chanon, Director of the Central Division; and Mrs. Krissana Paengniwong, Director of the Property Division, along with executives from associate network organizations.
The Dean of the School of Public Health, Asst. Prof. Dr. Somkid Juwa, reported on the project to establish and develop a local herbal learning center for health. The project aims to create and enhance local herbal learning resources for comprehensive health services, network communities, and disseminate knowledge, understanding, and skills in local herbal medicine, traditional eastern medicine, holistic health management, environmental safety, and occupational health. It also promotes the use of traditional wisdom to improve the health of the general public, university staff, and students at the University of Phayao.
The activities for the development of local learning resources include learning activities conducted both in the community and within external and internal organizations. These activities involve collaborative learning with the community, covering various aspects such as dimensions of well-being, herbal medicine, traditional (Chinese and Thai) medicine, local wisdom, agriculture, environmental management, safe chemical use, and learning activities including teaching both theoretical and practical aspects. Other activities encompass knowledge management, storytelling, community history, ethnicity, cultural preservation, learning from local experts, community forums for collective learning and decision-making, E-Learning, exhibitions, and seminars, all aimed at strengthening the community.
Furthermore, there are health service activities conducted by representatives of School staff and students from all disciplines of the School of Public Health. In the project area of Pang Kha Royal Project Development Center, there are storytelling sessions, Jiao Gu Lan herbal tea activities, and interactions with the community of Ban Pangka North. Medical services are also provided, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Traditional Thai Medicine, and at the Betty Dumen Border Patrol Police School, there are skill development and herbal medicine activities for students. These activities encompass health promotion, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), waste separation, emergency preparedness stations (fire and earthquake drills), and vegetable and herbal planting (kitchen garden for lunch).
This project will be beneficial for the development of knowledge, various skills, and the expansion of networks for collaboration in the fields of local herbal medicine, Eastern Traditional Medicine, occupational health, and the environment, as well as in society, culture, and the economy. It will lead to sustainable integration and development in all dimensions moving forward.