Tag Archives: Thailand

Health Insurance for Migrants

Stanford Social Innovation Review | Winter 2018

M-FUND health worker talking with migrants in Thailand. The M-FUND offers affordable health insurance to the vulnerable Burmese migrant population on Thailand’s western border. Photo credit: M-FUND

More than three million migrants live in Thailand, having crossed the border in search of higher wages and better job opportunities. But most aren’t able to pay for health care, despite being at high risk for dengue fever, tuberculosis, and several other infectious and respiratory diseases. “We knew that the Thai government health insurance program set up for migrants 20 years ago wasn’t working,” says Nicolas Durier, a physician who has worked in public health in Thailand and around Asia.

This story appeared in the print edition of Stanford Social Innovation Review magazine as well as online. Continue reading the story here.

Algae for Food and Green Jobs

Stanford Social Innovation Review | Spring 2018

Spirulina tanks on a rooftop in Thailand.
EnerGaia grows spirulina on rooftops in Thailand—as well as in other underused spaces—as a way to maximize land for sustainable food production. Photo credit: EnerGaia

Growing the blue-green algae spirulina, an increasingly popular “superfood,” doesn’t just yield a nutritious dietary supplement. It also combats climate change and, due to advances in the way it’s produced, can give individuals with limited resources a new way to generate income. “Spirulina is packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, and can make a real impact on food security and sustainability,” says Saumil Shah, the founder of EnerGaia, a company that grows the microalgae.

This story appeared in the print edition of Stanford Social Innovation Review magazine as well as online. Continue reading the story here.