The impact of transferring mission to local government: A study of Amnat Charoen leprosy colonies 2018

Abstract

This study aimed to monitor the impacts arising from the implementation of the leprosy mission transfer policy to a local government of the Amnat Charoen leprosy colonies in 2018. The policy was to be achieved by implementing nine activities under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the integration of the leprosy colonies mission to general community. This is an action research and the data were collected by in-depth interviews with 20 representatives from eight different agencies directly participating in the MoU and a focus group discussion attended by 40 representatives consisting of community leaders and people living in leprosy colonies. Results were analyzed using content analysis. The results showed that the transfer of Amnat Charoen leprosy colonies mission in accordance with the Decentralization Act B.E. 2542 (1999), of which the MoU on transfer agreement was signed on September 8, 2014, up to the present has not been able to fully achieve all the stated goals. However, all agencies involved in the framework of the agreement have been implementing the activities by providing welfare and services to the community under systematic management to ensure equality, fairness, transparency, and accountability. This was achieved by focusing on making the community leaders to be a good role model, changing the perspective from being an aid recipient to a giver, while living under self-sufficiency philosophy and preserving a cultural heritage to add positive values to the community. Overall, the mechanisms that need to be accelerated for the successful completion of the agreement include returning the land under the care of the Department of Disease Control to the Treasury Department, legally executing a land lease agreement with the Treasury Department, and improving the electrical system to meet the industry standards.