The seminar, held at The Pago Design Hotel in Ratsada, was opened by Dr Mueanprae Boonlom, Deputy Director of Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO).
The event, themed ‘Surviving Births, Safe Mothers, and Healthy Development for Phuket Children’, brought together public health specialists, private-sector partners and frontline medical staff to share experiences and develop clearer guidelines for maternal and child care.
Anu Yokthong, PPHO Health Specialist and Head of the Health Promotion Group, joined network partners to discuss practical strategies for enhancing services for pregnant women, postpartum mothers and children.
The seminar aimed to promote interagency collaboration and ensure that all mothers and infants receive continuous, standardised care from early pregnancy through the postnatal period.
Speaking at the opening, Dr Mueanprae highlighted that while medical technology has advanced and the number of births continues to decline, serious issues remain.
“Unintended pregnancies and missed or delayed prenatal care still lead to complications such as premature births, low birth weight, anaemia and birth defects,” she said.
“These are preventable problems, but pregnancy remains a physically and mentally vulnerable time that demands coordinated care.”
She stressed that local health networks play a critical frontline role in providing physical, mental and social support to mothers and children, ensuring quality, equitable and sustainable services.
The forum concluded with a call for stronger cooperation between government agencies, healthcare providers and community networks to protect mothers and give Phuket’s next generation the healthiest possible start in life.