Better care needed for Phuket’s disabled

PHUKET: Vice-Governor Nivit Aroonrat has joined other leading provincial figures in a call for better facilities for disabled people in Phuket.

At a fun day for the disabled at Saphan Hin, V/Gov Nivit on Wednesday voiced his support for the event, saying such activities helped to raise awareness of the problems disabled people faced in their daily lives.

He also called for people to be more considerate of the needs of disabled people, especially when designing and dedicating restrooms, parking spaces, footpaths and entrances to buildings.

V/Gov Nivit, who chaired the event, was joined by prominent local businessmen and senior government officers, as well as Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising.

In addition to the fun activities, many of the disabled brought to enjoy the event were handed gifts.

Dr Wiwat Sitamanoch, Deputy Director of the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO), said 3,550 people in Phuket are currently registered with the PPHO as disabled.

More than 350 of them are house-bound and have difficulty taking care of themselves, he said.

Some of them are unable to help themselves and are confined to their beds at home, he added.