Recent severe flooding in southern Thailand—particularly in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province—has forced widespread evacuations and exposed communities to increased health risks. These include skin infections caused by prolonged moisture, fungal foot infections, and heightened exposure to mosquito bites, which can lead to dengue fever, leptospirosis, and other flood-related infectious diseases.
In response, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Burapha University provided mosquito-repellent citronella spray and antifungal balm to support affected residents, helping mitigate immediate health risks. Additionally, the Dean, Asst. Prof. Dr Pharm. Nuttinee Teerakulkittipong, as a volunteer pharmacist, collaborated with the Pharmacy Council of Thailand and Thai PBS to provide expert guidance on medication use and health protection during floods.
This initiative demonstrates the vital role of higher education institutions in crisis response, integrating pharmaceutical knowledge to address real community needs and strengthening social responsibility among faculty members and future pharmacists.
Project Coordinator: Associate Professor Dr Pharm. Nuttinee Teerakulkittipong Dean of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Objectives:
- Provide citronella mosquito-repellent spray and antifungal balm to alleviate hardship among flood-affected communities.
- Reduce health risks associated with skin infections, moisture exposure, and mosquito-borne diseases.
- Promote the faculty’s role in applying pharmaceutical knowledge for crisis relief.
- Offer medication and health consultations through volunteer pharmacists.
- Foster volunteerism and social responsibility among faculty, staff, and students.
- Strengthen collaboration among communities, local agencies, and the university in disaster response and recovery.
Program Activities:
The project provided 1,000 units each of citronella spray and antifungal balm to flood victims, along with donations of emergency funds, dried food, drinking water, medical supplies, and essential items for residents in Hat Yai and Nakhon Si Thammarat. The Dean, in collaboration with the Pharmacy Council of Thailand, the Council of Deans of Pharmacy Schools (Thailand), and Thai PBS, contributed expert advice addressing public concerns about medication use and self-care during floods.
Expected Outcomes (Impacts):
- Impacts on flood-affected communities
- Improved access to essential health-protection products
- Reduced risk of skin and mosquito-borne infections
- Increased awareness of basic health practices during floods
- Immediate support in times of crisis
- Public health impacts
- Reduced burden on local healthcare systems
- Enhanced community capacity for disease prevention
- Lowered risk of post-flood disease outbreaks
- Impacts on the university and pharmacy students
- Demonstrated proactive community engagement by the faculty
- Strengthened the university’s public-service identity
- Offered experiential learning that nurtures professional skills and social empathy
- Inspired students to recognise the value of their future roles as pharmacists
- Broader societal impacts
- Established a model for integrating pharmaceutical expertise into disaster response
- Encouraged involvement from other academic institutions
- Strengthened multi-sector cooperation for community resilience
Date of Implementation: 26–30 November 2025
