Thailand’s Public Health Ministry on November 16 launched a “Give Birth, Great World” campaign to encourage couples to have babies and boost the nation’s worryingly low birth rate.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said that the campaign seeks to promote parenthood among young couples as many of them are choosing to delay or decide against having children for various reasons.
He called on the couples to dispel the belief that having more children will make one poor, especially among those who are from a higher socioeconomic background.
The minister emphasises that fixing the nation’s low birth rate is now a priority item on the government’s agenda.
He added that if current trends continue, Thailand looks set to be one of the 23 countries in the world whose population will shrink in the next couple of decades.
According to the ministry, there were nearly 500,000 babies born last year in Thailand, the lowest number in 70 years.
To boost the nation’s flagging birth
rate, the ministry will also establish 119 fertility centres nationwide including 12 at provincial public health clinics run by the Department of Health, 16 at public hospitals, and 91 at private hospitals. The clinics will be able to dispense advice and treatment for people with reproductive issues./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency