HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony of Vachira Hospital’s new Chalerm Prakiet 59 Educational Centre and Baan Khun Poom Rehabitation and Child Development Centre.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn granted her initial “Sor Thor (ส.ธ.)” to be used as the nameplate for the nine-storey Chalerm Prakiet 59 building which was completed on 2012 and is being used as a medical education training centre which includes accommodation for medical students.
The centre, a project set up under the agreement of Vachira Hospital and Walailak University is to be used as a place to educate future doctors to work in villages.
There are 24 students who attend each class and Walailak University is responsible to teach first- to third-year students while Vachira teaches fourth to sixth-year students, including clinic level.
HRH Princess Sirindhorn had a strong desire for Baan Khun Poom Rehabitation and Child Development Centre to commemorate and honour Khun Poom Jensen, the son of Princess Ubol Ratana who died in Phang Nga province in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
The centre is a dedicated to children and features a maternity ward, child psychology study centre and the rehabilitation and child development centre.
HRH Princess Sirindhorn came to Vachira in 2008, when the foundation stones for the new buildings were laid, and again in 2011, when the six-storey building was opened.
This year alone, the centre has diagnosed and treated more than 1,426 children who suffer from mental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism.
In 2014, Vachiara opened its hydrotherapy centre, which has so far treated 244 patients to alleviate body aches and pains. Hydrotherapy is known to improve the condition of weak muscles and helps patients gain a balanced posture.
Vachira also features Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, a treatment for decompression sickness, a hazard of scuba diving and serious diabetes infections. The hospital has around 534 beds to accommodate patients and treats more than 700,000 people each year.