AMDI Story

ASEAN Institute of Health Development

YEE HOONG KUAN

Published : 13 December 2023

ASEAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT

MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY, November 14 2023 -

Background

The ASEAN Institute for Health Development (AIHD), formerly known as the Training Center for Primary Health Development (ATC/PHC), was founded in October 1982 as part of the ASEAN Human Resource Development Project, which was funded by the Japanese government under the leadership of H.E. Zenko Suzuki, then Prime Minister of Japan. Both Mahidol University and the Ministry of Public Health cooperatively proposed the ATC/PHC project. Moreover, The Japanese government authorised a US$20 million technical for the project. On September 29, 1982, Mahidol University, and the Ministry of Public Health, acting on behalf of the Thai government, signed an agreement for technical cooperation. A month later, the Japanese government signed an agreement for similar technical cooperation. From these agreements, the ATC/PHC, managed by the Ministry of Public Health, was established at the Mahidol University Salaya Campus in Nakhon Pathom province, along with four regional centers, located in the provinces of Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, Nakhon Sawan, and Nakhon Sri Thammarat. The ATC/PHC started operating in a temporary office at the Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University on Rajvithi Road, Bangkok, prior to the center's construction at Salaya Campus. It subsequently relocated to the Administrative Centre of the Salaya Campus. In 1983, the center's construction finally got begun.

The Japanese based Ishimoto Co. was contracted for the construction of the center. On July 23, 1983, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn attended the ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the AIHD building. Besides, The AIHD people celebrated this momentous day as the birthday of the institute. It took one year and twenty days to complete the construction, which was finished in February 1984. In May 1984, Prof. Dr. Natth Bhamarapravati, then President of Mahidol University, signed the transfer agreement of the ATC/PHC building with Mr. Isuzu Hayashi, President of the construction company. The ATC/PHC personnel then relocated to the new premises. On February 20, 1985, the ATC/PHC held its inauguration ceremony. On top of that, on behalf of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej designated H R H Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to preside over the ceremony.

The ATC/PHC compound consisted of five building structures: an auditorium with 360 seats, an administration building, a training centre and museum, a dorm with 51 double rooms and a cafeteria. In addition to funding the construction, the Japanese government also provided funds for training and research, which placed the center on the right track right away. The funding was provided for a period of five years, and then it was extended for an additional two years, until 1989. As per the meeting no. 531 on April 18, 2018, the Mahidol University Council granted approval for the ASEAN Institute for Health Development to alter its organisational structure in alignment with its new objective, as per the experts' meeting resolution from April 5, 2018.

In 2019, Mahidol University designated the ASEAN Institute for Health Development to be the Secretarial office of ASEAN University Network on Health Promotion (AUN-HPN), Mahidol University Global Health (MUGH), Mahidol University Active Aging Hub (MUAH) and ILO Connect.

AIHD’s Vision, Mission & Strategies

Vision
"To be the recognized academic institute of Global Health, Health Policy, and Health Development in the ASEAN region by 2027"

Mission
1.    Develop research works for creating innovative role models for sustainable health system
2.    Manage transformative learning process for producing graduates to be the leaders of sustainable health system management
3.    Enhance the capacity of health staff to support sustainable health system development

Strategies
1.    Creation of research works to support sustainable health system.
2.    Learning management and program development to build leaders in health system policy.
3.    Excellent academic services and social policy direction to enhance and expand quality health system development.
4.    Development of an organizational management system for sustainable excellence.

AIHD’s Programs

Doctor of Philosophy Program in Health and Sustainable Development (International Program)

        The goal of this programme is to produce a doctorate who has qualifications specifies in the higher education ordinance regarding new knowledge generation, problems solving, enabling the sustainability of health system through an integrated multidisciplinary approach at the local, national, and international levels. The doctorate shall be the essence of leadership and the role model in both ethical academic and professional practice.

AIHD Education Programs

Country	Name	Scholarship	Education Activity Title
Thailand	Nareerat Sangkachai	Mahidol University	Ecology of Zoonotic & Emerging Disease around Garbage Sites in Bangkok, Metropolitan, Thailand
Nepal	Santos Pandey	?Mahidol University	Exploring Social-Ecological & Biological Factors Associated with Lymphatic Filariasis using One Health Approach in Nepal

Master of Primary Health Care Management (International Program)

The goal of the Master of Primary Healthcare Management programme is to develop professionals who possess the abilities and know-how required to handle challenges and obstacles in primary healthcare. Besides, the primary objectives of this curriculum are to train qualified and competent researchers, scholars, and managers of health services and systems. Graduates will evaluate contemporary health problems as well as challenge related to primary healthcare management critically. To strengthen their leadership and management skills in primary healthcare management, they will exhibit an in-depth understanding of knowledge and contexts in other fields of study. Furthermore, the graduates will be able to enhance primary healthcare systems at local and national levels.

Country	Name	Scholarship	Education Activity Title
Thailand	Wachirawit Parunawin	Thohun	Determination of Household Environment Practice Toward One Health Approach for Dengue Prevention & Control in Phetchaburi Province, Thailand
Thailand	Prasit Piriyapaiboon	Thai Gov.	Performance of the Village Health Volunteers in Prevention & Control of Liver Fluke in Nan Province
Thailand	May Thet Tun	Seaohun	Preventative Measures Against Zoonotic Diseases from Pets among the Pet Owners in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Myanmar	Aung Kyaw Soe	Mahidol University	Use of Insecticide – Treated Nets Among Pig Owners Living in Japanese Encephalitis Endemic Areas of Northern Myanmar
Myanmar	Zin Mar Kyi	Seaohun	Risk Assessment of Community Perspectives for Malaria Prevention & Control in High Endemic Area: A Case Study of Hpapun Township, Kayin State, South-East Myanmar

AIHD Researches

For 36 years, ASEAN Institute for Health Development (AIHD) has been recognized for its proficiency in the field of primary health care development through comprehensive action research, project development, evaluative research, community empowerment, and intervention studies. Acknowledging the significance of evidence-based health interventions, promotion, and support knowledge generation through research as core policies of AIHD demonstrates the institution effort to aiding Thailand in establishing health systems that meet the demands of its communities and society. However, changes of public health climate evidenced in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Declaration of Astana prompts AIHD a window of opportunity to support global community in galvanizing achievements in promoting research in the areas of, but not limit to, Global Health, Health policy, Active Aging and Primary Health Care.

Global Health – In order to address the burden of non-communicable disease, the ageing population, emerging diseases, health and social protection, sustainable development, and other major problems in global health, AIHD places a strong emphasis on primary health care studies related to the promotion of a healthy physical and social environment.

Health Policy – In order to provide sounded evidence-based policy recommendations for decision makers, AIHD focuses on monitoring and evaluating health-related policies at various stages (policy formulation, communication, implementation, and community engagement) at different levels, including national, district, and local.

Active Aging – Studies in this area explores opportunities to develop well-being of people and prepare them to be active and healthy elders. Furthermore, AIHD places a strong emphasis on the development of innovations for ageing society as appropriate to Thai context.

Primary Health Care – AIHD focuses on creating and dissemination of knowledge that contributes to the improvement of health care according to three key components as outlined in Declaration of Astana on Primary Health Care. These components include primary care and other crucial public health services, multisectoral policies and activities, and empowered individuals and communities. Additionally, AIHD also advance integrated people-centered health services (IPCHS) to advance comprehensive and people focused primary health care services by using evidence-based knowledge.

Journal of Public Health and Development (JPHD)

Journal of Public Health and Development (JPHD) is a journal published online by the ASEAN Institute for Health Development (AIHD), Mahidol University, Thailand. As a double- blinded, peer-reviewed journal, it publishes three issues annually for local and global health community. JPHD comprises scientific topics which are related to public health and development. Other than that, there are plenty of publication had been made in JPHD.

Year	Title
2021	Antibiotic use in commercial poultry production in Bangladesh: stakeholders’ roles and dependencies for antibiotic transaction
2022	Awareness and perception of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti as a dengue control method among residents of Yogyakarta Municipality A statical assessment of awareness on antimicrobial resistance and antibiotics use attitude among the university students in Karachi, Pakistan
2023	Practices, knowledge, and attitude toward dispensing antibiotics without a prescription in Iraqi pharmacies Climatic variations and the incidence of dengue fever in Bandung, Indonesia