BCTFN is a fund-raising organisation for Thai charities in Thailand. It is British inspired but is supported by many other nationalities. The main fund-raising event for BCTFN is Ploenchit Fair, an annual charity event held in Bangkok.
The Rural Area Medical Aid Foundation (RAMA) is a Charity under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King and is organized by Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacists, Nurses and various volunteers.
Their objectives are to serve poor villagers in rural areas throughout the kingdom with free medical assistance.
RAMA has been organizing trips for 30 years and makes 6 trips a year. The total number of patients treated to date is 232,624.
The idea of medical assistance for up country locations was initiated by Mr.A.T.Hassanally and the first trip was made on the 5th December 1979. On that trip they came across many poor villagers suffering from a variety of diseases, which created deep concern among the volunteers, and later they convinced their friends to join. Subsequently medical professionals from Thailand and abroad gave up their time to provide their services free of cost to help on a regular basis.
A typical visit comprises of 70 to 85 volunteers including doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, medical students, physical therapists and various volunteers. So far 52 provinces have been visited to villages as far as away as 800km. Usually there are two coaches for transporting helpers, medicines and equipment including transportable dental chairs.
Medical problems vary from simple complaints to ailments requiring operations including eye, dental, breast and cervical cancer. In some cases patients are brought to the provincial hospital or Bangkok for further treatment.
Although over 80 years of age and himself fighting off cancer, Mr. Hassanally still participates in these bimonthly trips and today his daughter Sherin, a qualified nurse, assists with the administration.
RAMA is now tryng to raise Baht 35million in new funds to open a CVA Nursing Center for patients suffering from paralysis. The facility will accept 80/100 patients and initially will start with 20.
BCTFN assists RAMA by supplying medical consumables and drugs for around Baht180,000 a year for these trips.
Charity Project Case Studies