Strategic Plans to Enhance Health, Sanitation and Environmental Potentials of Local Administrative Organizations in Chiang Mai Province Toward ASEAN Community

Abstract

This article aimed at exploring potential problems in the participating communities as well as investigating health, sanitation and environmental potentials of Local Administrative Organizations (LAOs) in Chiang Mai province in an attempt to construct a guideline for strategic plans to accommodate
the ASEAN Community. The mixed methods were utilized to collect and analyze data. The data were collected from 30 communities in 3 districts participating in this investigation. It is revealed from the research findings that the problem of the communities on health, sanitation and the environment was
an influx of peoples in the ASEAN region into the province. Their coming to work and residing in the province might bring about a plethora of health, sanitation and environmental problems. The results from analyzing environmental factors of LAOs had brought about the following strategies to enhance their potentials. The turnaround strategy focused on specific projects with individuals in full charge that might be outsiders or specialists. Retrenchment strategy was conducted by establishing collaboration with external agencies. Aggressive strategy emphasized on cooperation with nearby neighborhood and local aliens by designating relevant strategies and creating volunteer networks. Finally, stability strategy was carried out by empowering communities to collectively solve problems in cooperation with LAOs.