THE ROLE OF MONKS WITH THE DRIVE FOR HEALTH CONSTITUTION TO HEALTH RISK FACTORS FROM NON-CONTAGIOUS CHRONIC DISEASES

Abstract

This article aims to disseminate knowledge about the role of monks with the drive for health constitution to reduce health risk factors from chronic non-communicable diseases. Due to the health crisis, hundreds of thousands of Thai monks are suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases caused by health risk behaviors, smoking, not exercising, unhealthy foods, etc. Currently, health organizations move forward with the constitution for monks’ health, join forces to stop sickness, and have pushed the role of monks into health leaders. The Office of the Health Promotion Foundation organizes the Phra Kilanupattha training program about model monks for reducing health risk factors and developing health leader monks to monitor risk factors in the temples. The Office of the Health Promotion Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, the Office of the National Health Commission (NHCO), the National Health Security Office (NHSO), and the National Buddhism Office (B.E.) held a press conference on “Thai Monks Health Care” along with the certificate awarding ceremony to honor the model monks for driving health promotion in the temples and the Phra Kilanupattha - model monks for reducing health risk factors.Driving the health work of monks is carried out in accordance with the National Sangha Health Constitution B.E.2560 according to the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand in terms of the operation of monks and the development of health, to carry out health promotion temples and the National Sangha Health Constitution, with important tangibles including health promotion in the temples and development of the Phra Kilanupattha (monk health volunteers). Supporting the mechanisms at the local level in which the temple is the center of the mind and the monks are the spiritual leaders of the people requires the science and art to protect, restore, develop, provide the knowledge and understanding in order to lead to a positive change. Having a constitution for monks is to promote and take care of monks according to the principles of moral discipline and to be leaders in health for the community and society to have a good quality of life.