The Migrant Healthcare in Fang Project supports migrant workers in Fang District, Chiang Mai Province, to access essential health screenings, referrals, treatment support, and follow-up care. Implemented by Fortune Community Health Group, the project focuses on workers who often face barriers to healthcare due to cost, language, documentation, limited awareness, and uncertainty about their rights.

Through this project, migrant workers receive screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. Those who need further diagnosis or treatment are referred to hospital care and supported with interpretation, transport, food, medical expenses, and follow-up home visits. The project aims to reach 200 direct beneficiaries and around 600 indirect beneficiaries, mainly family members who benefit from improved health knowledge and stability within the household.

Fortune Community Health Group is a grassroots organisation based in Ban Wiang Wai, Mon Pin Subdistrict, Fang District, Chiang Mai Province. Founded in 2009, Fortune works closely with migrant communities living and working in agricultural areas and construction camps in Fang, Mae Ai, and Chai Prakan. Its work focuses on health, human rights, community support, and helping migrant workers access the information and services they need.

For many migrant workers, healthcare is difficult to access. Some are unsure about their rights, while others cannot afford hospital visits, transport, food, or treatment-related costs. Language barriers can also make hospital visits stressful and confusing. As a result, some people delay treatment, self-medicate, or rely on traditional remedies, even when their condition needs professional care.

This project helps bridge that gap by bringing health screenings closer to the community and supporting workers through the next steps when further care is needed.

The goal of this project is to improve access to preventive healthcare and ongoing treatment for migrant workers in Fang District.

The project aims to:

1. Provide health screenings for diabetes and high blood pressure among migrant workers.
2. Support female workers to access breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings.
3. Refer at-risk workers to hospital for further diagnosis and treatment.
4. Support chronic patients to attend follow-up appointments and continue their treatment.
5. Provide interpretation, transport, food, and medical cost support during hospital visits.
6. Increase workers’ understanding of self-care, prevention, treatment, and healthcare rights.

Results

Through this project, 200 migrant workers will directly benefit from health screenings, referrals, treatment support, and follow-up care. This includes 60 workers screened for diabetes, 60 screened for high blood pressure, 20 female workers screened for breast cancer, 20 female workers screened for cervical cancer, 30 workers referred for further testing, and 10 chronic patients receiving ongoing monitoring and support.

An estimated 600 family members will also benefit indirectly as workers gain better health knowledge, receive timely treatment, and become more able to care for themselves and their families. In the longer term, the project is expected to build greater trust in healthcare services, encourage regular check-ups, and help migrant communities respond earlier to health risks before they become more serious.