February 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. – Khon Kaen University by Tawanchai Foundation (Tawanchai Foundation for Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Disorders, the Caring and Research Center for Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Abnormalities, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry and Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts of Khon Kaen University, carried out an farm learning project that aimed to develop the quality of life of the patients with the diseases. Assoc. Prof. Darunee Jotishyangkoon, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University presided over the opening session while Assoc. Prof. Poonsak Pisek, D.D.S., Ph.D., Director of Tawanchai Foundation delivered the reporting speech. The event took place at the Agricultural Park, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University.
The Farm Learning Project for Developing the Quality of Life for Patients with Cleft Lip and Patients has as its aim to open up a chance for the patients to learn about sustainable farming and to promote the potentiality of the patients with these abnormalities so that they could create self-esthetics, spend their time usefully, reduce their tension and worries. In addition, the project integrates joint activities of the students of the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, and Faculty of Agriculture in quality of life development for patients with cleft lip and palate so that they can live happily in the society. The knowledge and understanding of the conditions of patients are also transferred to the community for happy living of all.
Assoc. Prof. Poonsak Pisek, D.D.S., Ph.D., Director of Tawanchai Foundation revealed that the conditions of cleft lips and palate and craniofacial abnormalities bring a lot of physical, mental, and economic impact to the patients and their families. The conditions also affect the quality of life. In terms of physical health, the patients have difficulties in the function of various parts of the body. For psychological health, the disorders are related to self-pride and thinking, behavior and external traits. In terms of social health, the social and family functions are involved. Research has shown that patients with cleft lip and palate have medium satisfaction of themselves, their face, lips, speaking voice, teeth, and hearing. The satisfaction towards the nose is lowest. They are found to worry about the illness. Some developed problematic behaviors in socialization. Tawanchai Foundation, with cooperation from Tawanchai Foundation for Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Disorders and the Caring and Research Center for Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Abnormalities have integrated the patient care with the team of health professionals so that the patients receive medical treatment, surgery and rehabilitation that are in accordance with the age ranges. The common target of the health professional team is the safety of patients, their satisfaction towards the treatment outcomes, their capacity to live normally in the society, and their good quality of life and ability to return to the society. These could be done through the Farm Learning Project for Developing the Quality of Life for Patients with Cleft Lip and Patients, which incorporated the knowledge from 4 fields, namely, medicine, dentistry, agriculture and fine and applied arts. The society, at the same time, would be transferred with knowledge and understanding of the patients and hence accept their living together with better quality of life.
Assoc. Prof. Darunee Jotishyangkoon, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture said that besides the physical change and increase of confidence of the external characteristics, which are the duty of KKU medical team, it is necessary to enhance esthetics values in order to support psychological stability and family relationship. The farm learning stations that were organized for them included learning about worms for farming and environment, learning about insects, and others that are cooperated by many units. These would enable the patients to build their own occupation and at the same time release their tension. It was not only physical treatment that could lead to recovery, but the young patients would grow with potentialities to live happily in the world.
Many administrators joined this event including Assoc. Prof. Palakorn Surakulprapha, M.D., Vice Dean for the Center of Excellence and Center for Health Service; Prof. Bawornsil Chowchuen, M.D., Chairman of Tawanchai Foundation; Assoc. Prof. Waranuch Pitiphat, D.D.S., Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. The event was moderated by Dr. Korbkulaya Juengprasertsri, M.D., Secretary of Tawanchai Foundation.
Assoc. Prof. Waranuch Pitiphat, D.D.S., Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University added that most patients with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial disorders require oral and dental treatment. Faculty of Dentistry is responsible for this, from new-born patients until they grow. The instructional program of the Faculty incorporates this so that all dentistry students learn about it and are trained to provide dental care to these patients, with the use of technology and innovation for best treatment outcomes. When the physical and external characteristics have been accounted for, the patients are transferred to other faculties. This means we work together continuously without any gap for the best quality of life for young patients with the disease.
Assoc. Prof. Palakorn Surakulprapha, M.D., Vice Dean for the Center of Excellence and Center for Health Service explained, “Normally, there are few patients with cleft lip and palate in other countries. There is only roughly 0.12 percent of these patients abroad. In Thailand, however, there are a lot of patients, especially in the Northeast. The treatment is nearly totally free of charge, but there is a problem about transportation. Normally, at least two parents bring their sick children to the hospital. This means they lose their earning during the travel. It is the weakness making few patients coming to the hospital, for fear of the family losing income. Srinagarind Hospital has attempted to solve this problem by using technology that enables fast treatment such as using artificial palate, nasal enlargement tool, developing application for speech therapy, and reducing the visits to hospital. We have tried to provide treatment to these children, facilitating both the parents and children so that they could develop better personality and could live without problem in the society. It is good that now the society accepts these patients more, and nowadays they can live without feeling that they are the underprivileged.”
Prof. Bawornsil Chowchuen, M.D., Chairman of Tawanchai Foundation revealed that it has been 35 years that the Foundation has been helping to rehabilitate the patients. The target is to make Thai children with the disease grow up as a normal part of the society. The Foundation has helped in supporting all of the treatment fees including the transportation. The Foundation has mobilized funds and has been supported by institutions both in Thailand and overseas. In addition, there is assistance in promoting occupation, education, jobs and accommodation for some homeless patients. Over 10 houses have been built for them. Now there are 5,000 patients under the Foundation’s responsibility. It can be said that the treatment and care of Tawanchai Foundation is a model for caring patients with clef lip and palate and craniofacial abnormalities. It is an example for both Asian and international level, for there is nothing of this kind anywhere. The work the foundation is doing is excellent, owing to the strong teamwork. “We take care of patients from the time they were born until they grow up. The team includes dentists, doctors, and now there is personnel from Faculties of Agriculture and Fine and Applied Arts that join in supporting the patients in other aspects. A child with abnormal physical condition has been taken care of so that he or she is growing to be a person with quality in the society. Tawanchai Foundation links all dimensions and institutions to work together for the completeness and potentialities of the young patients.
“Some patients have developed complications. A mother with cleft lip and palate could give birth to a baby with the same condition. We carry out research work to take care of new-born and follow up until they have their own family to see how to reduce the risk of the baby developing the disorders. There is next, the brain complication that requires continuous treatment. Good treatment and follow-up is necessary. If a child has not received precise treatment during the first 3 years, he or she may not speak normally and this prevents him or her to socialize. The Foundation is trying to draw the potentiality of this group of children. They may not be confident when at school, but we help them to be able to utter more clearly through speech therapy and help them join activities with others until they are able to express themselves and feel more confident. We provide art and music lessons for them. We are trying to build a new generation with abilities to live well in the society,” said the Chairman of Tawanchai Foundation.
News / Photos: Public Relation Network of Khon Kaen University
