PUBLISHED : 7 Feb 2024 at 05:51
The Ministry of Public Well being says it plans to offer “dust-free” hospital rooms for at-risk sufferers in 30 provinces following an increase within the variety of folks affected by PM2.5.
The Public Well being Ministry’s everlasting secretary, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, mentioned greater than 10,000 sufferers have been reported to have been affected by the superb particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) over the previous 4 months, with 1,407 needing emergency care.
Dr Opas mentioned the ministry plans to introduce “dust-free” rooms in 30 high-risk provinces, together with Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Phitsanulok and the Bangkok Metropolitan Area.
The rooms will accommodate weak sufferers, together with the aged, younger youngsters, pregnant ladies and folks with persistent ailments comparable to bronchial asthma, allergy symptoms, and coronary heart illness.
Dr Opas mentioned the PM2.5 state of affairs within the nation worsened this week, with Tuesday’s information on PM2.5 ranges exhibiting 44 provinces endured ranges larger than 37.5μg/m3.
Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesman, mentioned the latest improve of PM2.5 to an unhealthy stage in 26 Bangkok areas is attributable to exterior elements, particularly burning smoke from Cambodia.
Information exhibits burning actions in 49,983 areas in Thailand’s neighbouring nations this yr, a 93% improve from final yr’s 25,856 areas.
The highest 5 areas with the very best ranges of PM2.5 in Bangkok are Suan Thawiwanarom park and Sanam Luang 2 in Thawi Watthana District, Bangkok Noi railway police station in Bangkok Noi district, Bang Bon market in Bang Bon district, and Phetkasem 81 in Nong Khaem district.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt in the meantime mentioned farmers are among the many folks most blamed for the PM2.5 drawback as they do numerous stubble burning as they can not afford machines that enable them to keep away from burning actions. He additionally revealed a BMA initiative lending tractors and straw balers to farmers to scale back their burning actions and assist generate extra earnings from promoting rice straw blocks.
