Health and rural-to-urban migration in Thailand. The Population and Community Development Association's experience in rural development

Abstract

The Population and Community Development Association (PDA), a non-governmental organisation, has designed and implemented a new model of rural economic development in which health is considered to be the cornerstone of all development strategies. By attacking migration as the root cause of current threats to the population's health, PDA's Thai Business Initiative in Rural Development program provides economic opportunities to villagers in the poorest areas of the country. This structural approach to health enhancement includes specific components to address primary health care, family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention, education and care.

PIP: Since its establishment in 1974 as a nongovernmental organization with funding from a number of agencies, including the US Agency for International Development, the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) has implemented a practical, community-based program to address the changing needs of the rural Thai population. Over the past decade, rural-to-urban migration in Thailand has emerged as the single greatest threat to the health status of the population. The PDA has designed and implemented a new model of rural economic development in which health is considered to be the cornerstone of all development strategies. PDA's Thai Business Initiative in Rural Development Program is working to provide economic opportunities to villagers in the poorest areas of the country. This structural approach to health enhancement includes specific components to address primary health care, family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention, education and care.