Project Reach: Thailand

In 2007, Thailand instituted a Traditional Medicine Law. Under this new law, as part of a move to eliminate discrimination, blind masseuses for the first time became able to stand for the national medical massage test. However, in the two years since then, a dearth of educational opportunity has left Thailand without any nationally certified masseuses with sight disabilities.

Japan, on the other hand is relatively well developed in this respect, and the skill and knowledge of blind masseuses is well known in this country. Further, once a person has acquired national certification, he or she has a license to work at medical facilities, care centers, treatment centers, private businesses, or even establish a new company.

In order to introduce the Japanese system to Thailand, a seminar will be give from August 18 to 20 at the Century Park Hotel in Bangkok. The seminar will cover such issues as the Japanese massage training programs and testing system. It is hoped that this will lead to a further development of the Thai system such that the country eventually has not only a law on paper, but an actual system in place that will give the visually impaired a better chance in life and thus give meaning to the law.

The seminar, aimed at Thai government officials and medical professionals, is being offered by Tsukuba University’s Asia Medical Massage Instructors Network and the Thai Blind Union, with support from The Nippon Foundation.

Further particulars can be found in the attached program.