Health
In Thailand, the rights of disabled people have been recognised and discussed in the last 20 years, but their real needs are still unsolved and indefinite. Considering disabled people and their families, the number of people who are socially and economically involved in the matter are 15 million. The Ministry of Public Health, Education and Labour are responsible for disability services. These services provided by public or private structures, should make education, training, healthcare, professional training and other recreational opportunities accessible for people with disabilities. However, the lack of cooperation and coordination between the offices made it impossible to satisfy the needs of disabled people; and as a result, there is a limited or even absent improvement in their life standards. Another big obstacle in the Thai society, which is typical of the Asian culture, is the belief that a disabled person is a dishonour for the family, a “curse” that won’t bring prosperity but that indicates a negative “fate”, a negative “Kharma”.
The government institutes are crowded with children and adults who do not receive adequate care due to the lack of investments and qualified personnel. The person with disability is considered unable to take care of themselves and to be helpful to others.
Camillian Home project is founded on the conviction that the creation of an adequate integration program can help disabled children to grow up being able to improve their life standards and their physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual skills. The centre is located in Bangkok outskirts and it is one of the few centres in Thailand specialised in orphan disabled children hosting and in day-care programs for those children who live in barracks with their families without receiving any assistance. Every day, a responsible of the centre picks up children from the countryside and brings them there. Physical health is fundamental in everyone’s life and this is even more true for disabled people. At the Camillian Home children are provided with physical, psychological, occupational (art therapy), education therapy and, when possible, with toys, breakfast, a meal and a snack. These children are able to reborn in a society where marginalisation of disabled people is very strong.
