- Project Leader : Yoshimura Chie (Kumamoto Gakuen University, Faculty of Social Welfare)
Outline of Research
This research deals with the activities of OSM (Aasaasamak Saataaranasuk Muubaan) in Thai village communities. OSM are regarded as the central pillar of current Thai Public Health policy, which was initiated in the early 1980’s as a WHO project for community based primary health care. Based on the National Health Act.2550 (2007), OSM activities are designated for every village and expected to gather health information, care for the elderly, and provide support for mothers and children.
This research describes and evaluates the activities and roles of OSM in community health and welfare.
Description
The purposes of this research are to examine and evaluate the activities and impact of OSM activities in Thai village communities. They include medical checks health support and other activities based on locally situated Health Promotion Hospital as a key station. At the same time, OSM gather rich data about public health in the community and this detailed data are consolidated for national statistical purposes by the Ministry of Public Health. In addition, the Ministry of Public Health is responsible for training OSM in every prefecture and carries out a variety of projects to employ and mobilize them.
Thus, OSM carries out many kinds of community-level activities under the Ministry, but their wealth of activities is under-studied. Today, the people in the population which OSM deals with includes the elderly, disabled, mothers and children, infants, and home care patients; they are all groups that are drawing increased attention in Thai society. Consequently, the activities of OSM are growing. OSM are also key persons in community activities, ranging from religious to agricultural and educational activities.
By describing OSM activities, the practice of public health policy by the Ministry at the local level can be understood more easily. Understanding OSM practices, including the relationship between OSM and their community, will give us insights into alternative care practices and community activities for the next generation, allowing us to reconsider care systems with multiple actors and stakeholders such as nation, social, community, family and person.
 get lunch together, and have a meeting at Loei Province, Thailand |
 OSM have home visit activities with community nurse, (they check blood test for diabetes, take blood pressure, interview about lifestyle and medicine) |