The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), led by Minister Chuti Krairiksh, along with MSDHS Permanent Secretary Porametee Wimonsiri, Ratchaburi Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung, and MSDHS One Home executives in Ratchaburi, together with related agencies, paid a visit to underprivileged people, young, elderly, and disabled, affected by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tha Pha Sub-district, Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province.
Subsequently on 7 July 2020, the minister and his entourage went to meet Mr Satapon Suphanidamethas and give him moral support. Mr. Satapon is a disabled life fighter who won awards in national and international competitions for the disabled in the field of electronic circuit assembly, thus bringing fame to Thailand and becoming a role model for other disabled people.
The Minister presided over a meeting of One Home attended by nine agencies to follow up and drive the MSDHS mission in the area.
One day prior to the visit, MSDHS Minister conveyed the message that His Majesty the King wishes Thai people happiness without difficulties.
“It is a direct MSDHS responsibility to fulfil this,” said the Minister. “We all work hard on behalf of the king. We visited the site to help underprivileged people affected by the pandemic, ranging from youngsters to the elderly.”
Affected people visited by the Minister and his delegation included:
1) A 72-year-old woman living with two grandchildren whose rented house burned down.
2) An old man in poor health aged 64, living with a wife. He is the only one who earns money and the condition of his house is uninhabitable.
3) A widowed woman aged 44 with the burden of supporting her grandchild. As a daily worker, she cannot currently make a living due to the pandemic.
4) A woman aged 54, physically disabled and with chronic illnesses, living with a 64-year-old husband, three grandchildren, and a son-in-law who earns the family income which is not enough for daily expenses.
5) A 73-year-old man with only his torso and arms, now living with his brother and sister because his rented house was burned.
6) A 10-year-old boy with mental retardation and epilepsy living with his working relatives unable to fully take care of him.
Additionally, MSDHS gave a survival bag and opportunities to help educate children, who are the future of the nation, with scholarships. MSDHS cooperates with the vocational training centre in the area to provide training for people in order to generate income to support their families and themselves after the pandemic.
“As MSDHS Minister, I have to take care of people and find plausible solutions,” added the MSDHS minister.
Photographs of the king and queen together with financial support were given to underprivileged people in the area. Partners in the network coordinated to further restore burned houses. In addition, the One Home team was assigned to give long-term support in collaboration with MSDHS volunteers.
Afterwards, Mr Chuti went on to visit, encourage and praise the efforts of Mr Satapon Suphanidamethas, aged 51, who has physical disabilities due to polio that caused deformities in both his legs. However, through relentless practice, he now has daily life skills that enabled him to succeed in the National Handicapped Handicap Competition and International Handicap Competition Electronic Circuit Assembly. He has received many prestigious awards, including gold medals at the 5th and 7th National Handicap Handicraft Competition and bronze medals at the 7th and 9th International Handicap Competition. He is also now owner of a successful electrical appliance repair shop. As such, he is an outstanding role model for people with disabilities. In this regard, MSDHS has designated him as “Disabled Person Role Model in Ratchaburi Province 2020”.