Thailand's royal barge to be on medical mission

BANGKOK, September 21 (TNA) - The Thai Red Cross Society will send off a royal barge, named Vejapaha, with a medical team aboard to provide health services to people living along the Chao Phraya River early next month. Thai Red Cross Society Secretary-General Phan Wannamethee presided over a ceremony to send off the Royal Vejapaha Barge from Tha Wasukri, a pier near the National Library of Thailand in Bangkok's Deves District on September 20. The Royal Vejapaha Barge, with the medical personnel aboard, will provide mobile medical services to people living along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok's neighbouring Suphan Buri Province during October 3-7, covering general medical check-ups and treatment, applied acupuncture treatment and dentistry, as well as proper hygienic and public health information and knowledge. The five-day mission is aimed to honour and pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty's 84th birthday anniversary on August 12, 2016 and the Thai Queen's presidency of the Thai Red Cross Society for 60 years. Meanwhile, Thai Red Cross Society Director Lieutenant General Dr. Amnat Baelee told journalists that His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej presented the Royal Vejapaha Barge to the Thai Red Cross Society on January 19, 1955 to be used for free mobile medical and mitigation services to people living along the riversides. (TNA)