Province launches mobile “anti-poverty” clinic
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Province this morning launched a “Mobile Anti-Poverty Clinic” aimed at eliminating poverty in the province in accordance with government policy.
The opening festivities took place on the grounds in front of Phuket Provincial Hall this morning, with Phuket Vice Governor Tri Augkaradacha presiding.
Naep Sinthong, who heads the province’s community development services unit, said the project is part of the Government’s 2008-2011 poverty eradication plan, which is being administered by the Interior Ministry’s Community Development Department (CDD) under its “Poverty Eradication and Rural Development under Sufficiency Economy Philosophy” program.
The “mobile clinic” will allow social workers to visit poor households to teach the principals of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, allowing low-income residents to make better use of limited resources and find sustainable livelihoods, and work their way out of poverty in the long-term.
Apart from helping the target families to start up low-cost community restaurants, support activities will include provision of materials and equipment needed to start new businesses.
The provincial community development unit has selected 18 poor households for the outreach project: eight in Muang District, eight in Thalang and two in Kathu.
For each family, a new profession or career path has been chosen for the breadwinners.
