The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) has launched public relations campaigns, with media production in Thai and Malay, to encourage local people in the deep South to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
SBPAC Assistant Secretary-General and Spokesperson Teerapong Petcharat said that the SBPAC Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration had been set up to support the operations of SBPAC in handling the COVID-19 situation in the southern border provinces.
He said that SBPAC Secretary-General Rear Admiral Somkiat Pholprayoon on 20 May held a meeting with members of the center to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the deep South, which is still worrisome.
In the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat, 29 villages have been designated COVID-19 risk areas. Among them, 15 villages are in Yala, 13 in Narathiwat, and one is in Pattani.
SBPAC executives have visited various villages affected by this situation and provided them with food and other necessary items. A number of graduate volunteers are joining SBPAC in helping create better understanding among local residents about COVID-19 vaccination by stressing that it is not against the Islamic principles.
Local residents have also been told about registration and preparations for vaccination in order to achieve herd immunity for the benefit of themselves and society.
The meeting of the SBPAC Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration on 20 May also discussed job placement for Thai workers who have returned from Malaysia because of the COVID-19 situation. Many Thai workers intend to return to work in the agriculture sector in Malaysia once the COVID-19 situation eases.
