June 1-4, 2024 – Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University and Thailand Toyota Foundation, organized the “Voluntary Camp by Nursing Students for Healthy Community” at Ban Wangnong, Nonyang Sub-district, Nongsoong District, Mukdahan Province.
Assoc. Prof. Amporanpan Teeranuch, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, presided over the opening ceremony, which was on June 1, 2024. Attending as distinguished delegates were Khun Chayanon Sappayakorn and representatives from Thailand Toyota Foundation, the network in the area; Asst. Prof. Arunnee Jaithiang, Assistant to the Dean for Student Development and Alumni Relation; Khun Apichaya Somhan, Head of the Academic Service and Student Development. The Faculty’s lecturers, staff members, students and the public also joined, totaling over 200 people.
Assoc. Prof. Amporanpan Teeranuch, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, said, “The Voluntary Camp by Nursing Students for Healthy Community is organized to develop the potentiality of community leaders, village health volunteers, leaders of youths and children, primary school pupils and the public to understand and know about health promotion, prevention of chronic conditions of non-contagious diseases, reduction and stopping of cigarette smoking, alcoholic drinks and addictive substances. Another objective is to train the participants in basic life-saving skill and first-aid. Moreover, the campers also join in improving the school and community landscape. In so doing, they develop their 21st Century skills, social awareness, volunteering, leadership and develop the health network to prevent chronic conditions from non-contagious diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.”
“Skill development of village health volunteers, leaders of youths and children, primary school pupils and the public includes first-aid training and life-saving skill. The leaders of youths and children are trained to prevent and reduce smoking, alcoholic drinking and using of addictive substances. Health promotion of primary school pupils are emphasized including care of oral health, reading nutritional labels, self-care before entering the adolescence age, and refusal skill. Besides, the campers join in adjusting the landscape that will facilitate learning in school and enhance healthiness at the community health care station. The camp provides a good chance for exchanging of Phu Thai culture and local wisdoms of Ban Wangnong such as wickerwork, weaving, Bai Sri Su Khwan, morning food offering to monks on the village’s cultural road. All of these are the activities that receive good cooperation from the community.”
The activity made the participating students understand the conditions and acquire the skills from being in the real place. It was a good chance for the students to accumulate their professional experiences that could be applied with the knowledge they learn at the university by real practices as part of the community development towards a healthy society.
News: Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University
Rewritten by: Jiraporn Pratomchai
Photos: Student Union, Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University
