Danish princess learns more about diabetes in thailand

Crown Prince Frederic and the princess are here from Monday to tomorrow as guests of Their Majesties the King and Queen to mark the 150th anniversary of Thai-Danish diplomatic relations.

As part of the celebrations, the Danish Embassy and four partners are raising Bt12 million for the Public Health Ministry to acquire a mobile eye unit to screen diabetic retinopathy patients in rural areas, said Prat Boonyawongvirot, permanent secretary for the ministry.

The four organisations are the World Diabetes Foundation, Diabetes Association of Thailand, International YWCA Thailand and Novo Nordisk Pharma (Thailand).

Prat, who was among the officials welcoming the princess, said diabetes kills 3.8 million people a year. The number of diabetes patients has reached about 246 million worldwide, and was predicted to rise to 380 million in 2025.

A 2004 survey found 3.2 million Thais suffering from the debilitating disease, 380,000 receiving treatment and 8,000 dying, he said. By 2025, Thailand would have 4.7 million patients and 52,800 deaths per year.

Today, the Danish royals are observing the use of new fire engines at a location on the Thon Buri riverbank near the Rama VIII Bridge during their boat trip along the Chao Phya River, said Thanik Yuthasunthorn, deputy chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Disaster Prevention Department.

The demonstration would be presented by the BMA and the Thai-Danish Chamber of Commerce, he said.