Health > Intergovernmental conference of Far-Eastern countries on rural hygiene : preparatory papers : national reports : report of Siam

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Although the technical aspects of the question do not present
any insurmountable difficulty, the peculiarity of the economic
condition of the people, characterised by a small money income,
will admit of only gradual progress in carrying out the schemes
of improvement.
The rural inhabitants of this country, apart from their educa¬
tional attainments since the introduction of compulsory
education some twenty years ago, possess such natural
intelligence and adaptability that they can be easily persuaded
by sympathetic leadership to co-operate in work of public
benefit.
For many years the Public Health Department has carried
on extensive health campaigns in every part of the Kingdom
by means of countless booklets, lectures, exhibitions and
demonstrations, as well as by actual measures intended to
serve as examples. Through the Education Department, the
schools have received instruction on hygiene with satisfactory
results. The health campaigns are designed to reach men,
women and children alike. No marked difference in intelligence
between men and women has been observed by field workers as
far as receptivity is concerned. But, as the women are usually
at home during working days, they have received more attention
than the men in this respect.
It has been realised that progress in public health must depend
on the earning power of the people and that the economic
progress visualised in the national economic policy will carry
with it progress in hygiene. The road construction scheme,
started two years ago with a total grant of 30,000,000 baht for
a period of five years, will contribute towards both economic
and public health progress.
Before forming practical schemes of reconstruction, surveys
of the economic conditions of the rural population must be
carried out by experts in the field. The Government has, in
co-operation with Harvard University, carried out two extensive
rural surveys under the supervision of American experts with
Siamese technicians as assistants. The two published reports
contain the basic data for any scheme of reconstruction.
It is believed that one of the most effective means of promoting
economic progress or rural reconstruction is to be found in
co-operative credit societies. The society members already