Chula and Siriraj hospitals adopt new 'green' environmentally friendly faces

The “Green Hospital In The City” project was unveiled last Wednesday at Chulalongkorn Hospital. 

Chulalongkorn University (CU)’s Faculty of Medicine dean and hospital director Assoc Prof Sophon Napathorn said the hospital had to build many more buildings due to the growing number of people seeking medical services there each year, hence trees were cut down and canals were filled for extra space. This left the hospital with a shrinking amount of green space. The tree-planting project, he said, aimed to increase the hospital’s green area by 30 per cent in the next 10 years. 

CU Landscape Architecture lecturer Assoc Prof Jamaree Arayanimitskun said: “The green area are very important for the hospital. It helps improve people’s physical and mental health, provide good natural views, while trees in the garden will also absorb carbon dioxide, provide more oxygen and reduce pollution for the hospital.”

The project, using the nurse dormitory area for plant propagation, also got participation from hospital staff to turn this facility into a hospital garden. Head nurse Kanjanee Opatipakorn said the project would also promoted the staff’s good qualities and help the organisation’s growth.

Meanwhile, another famous Bangkok hospital, Siriraj, also launched a green project – “Siriraj Loves Environment” last week to boost the staff and local communities’ environmental awareness. The event included many activities including a mini concert, a recycled product contest and an exhibition featuring the hospital’s 10 policies towards being the “green” Siriraj Hospital. The policies include procurement of environmentally friendly products, “green building” principles in building design and construction, better wastewater treatment, safe garbage separation before disposal and the energy-saving measures.