Efforts to improve the health of women and children living in remote areas of Lao PDR have been given an important boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Lao PDR and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The MoU was signed at a ceremony in Vientiane by the Minister of Health, Dr Ponmek Dalaloy, and the Luxembourg Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Mrs. Marie-Josée Jacobs. Attending the ceremony were senior representatives of the four United Nations agencies – the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization - whose joint programme will utilize the funds totaling Euros 8.1 million over five years to support the Ministry of Health’s National Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Services Strategy.

Press release Eng-Lao.pdf (1.42 mb)

Dozens of Lao women are learning to be midwives as part of a national effort to bring down one of the region’s highest maternal mortality rates.

Two families lose a mother and nearly 20 babies are born dead every day, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which is supporting the government initiative.

Deliveries by untrained birthing attendants, unable to solve life-threatening complications during birthing at home or help a newborn take its first breath, are partly responsible for both maternal and infant deaths, according to Monir Islam, director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Making Pregnancies Safer department. Read more

12 February 2010, the ground-breaking Summit on Adolescent & Youth Health Development was convened at Don Chan Palace in Vientiane with the theme “Young People’s Health in the Lao PDR: Why Worry?” The meeting was cordially co-chaired by H.E Dr. Bounkhouang Phichith, Vice Minister of Health and Mr. Serge Verniau, UNRC a.i to Lao PDR.

More than 150 top level participants were in attendance including representatives from National Assembly, government ministries, mass organizations, INGOs, Development Partners, journalists and young people. The meeting was jointly facilitated and supported by Ministry of Health and four UN agencies: UNFPA, UNICEF, UNODC and WHO. [Read more]

Vientiane: The United Nations is stepping up its response to last week’s typhoon in southern Lao PDR, sending food, water and hygiene supplies to communities hit hardest by the devastating storm and floods.

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Vientiane, July 3, 2009: “Realistic solutions” to the invisible crisis of malnutrition were the focus of two four-day National Nutrition Policy Dissemination Workshops in Oudomxay and Champasack provinces, 6-9 and 26-29 May, said Dr. Bounkouang Phichit, Vice-Minister of Ministry of Health (MOH). 

Attended by 220 participants including Dr. Bounkouang Phichit, Mr. Khamhoung Houengvongsy, Vice-Ministers of MOH, Mr. Bounpone Vannachith, Vice-Governor of Oudomxay Province and Dr. Douangchan Keoasa, Director General of Department of Hygiene and Prevention MOH, the series of workshops had in-depth presentations and discussions on the National Plan of Action for Nutrition and the National Nutrition Strategy, focusing on their linkages with the National Nutrition Policy and all sectors related to nutrition.

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29 April 2009 - Based on assessment of all available information and following several expert consultations, Dr Margaret Chan, WHO's Director-General raised the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to 5. She stated that all countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans. At this stage, effective and essential measures include heightened surveillance, early detection and treatment of cases, and infection control in all health facilities.

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