On January 20, 2025, the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wacharin Loylom, Director of the Institute, in collaboration with Ban Phai Municipality, organized the “Workshop for Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and OV-CCA Leaders of Ban Phai Municipality.” Mr. Prasert Pongtheeramitr, Mayor of Ban Phai Municipality, presided over the opening ceremony. Mr. Sanya Moo-on, Director of the Public Health and Environment Division, gave a report. Also in attendance were Mr. Waraphol Paksukchai, Deputy Mayor of Ban Phai Municipality, Mr. Chanol Thanarapichot, Chairman of the Ban Phai Municipal Council, and council members. The event took place at the Ban Phai Municipal Multipurpose Hall, Khon Kaen Province.
This training was organized to impart accurate knowledge and enhance screening skills for village health volunteers and related personnel in the Ban Phai municipal area. It began with a lecture on “Past Solutions to Liver Fluke Disease and Cholangiocarcinoma Problems and Access to Benefit Packages” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wacharin Loylom, Director of the Institute, followed by a lecture on “The Relationship Between Liver Fluke Disease and Cholangiocarcinoma and Current Innovations in Liver Fluke Screening” by Prof. Dr. Paiboon Sitthithavorn, Advisor to the Institute and lead researcher in developing the OV-ATK diagnostic kit. This was followed by practical training on registering and monitoring at-risk groups and using the ready-to-use OV-ATK liver fluke screening kit, led by Dr. Chaiwat Thawarungruang and his team.
Following this, trained community health volunteers will conduct public communication to raise awareness about liver fluke disease and cholangiocarcinoma in the community, and register at-risk groups in preparation for liver fluke screening in February 2025.