Day: July 13, 2021

Some 76 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 over the past twenty-four hours including 74 imported cases and two local transmissions.

The imported cases were detected in Champassak (43), Savannakhet 21, Khammuan 6, and Vientiane 4as the two local infections were reported in Luang Namtha.

The total of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country currently stands at 2,901 including 683 active cases and three deaths.

Globally, Covid-19 has infected more than 188 million people and killed more than 4 million people since the first case of Covid-19 was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

Source: Lao News Agency

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) marked today – July 13 – the World Population Day under the theme: “Protecting the Reproductive health and rights of all people even during COVID-19 – Accelerating the ICPD Implementation.”

The event launched the State of the World Population (SWOP) report 2021 and convened a panel discussion towards addressing the COVID-19 impact on the ICPD implementation in Laos.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Phonvanh Outhavong stated that “The government has made progress since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994 and more recently made commitments to ICPD25. We have integrated ICPD into national priorities including the National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and sectoral plans, along with localization of the sustainable development goals.” “Although we made progress towards sexual and reproductive health including the empowerment of women and girls, challenges remain which have been exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic, discussions with diverse partners such as today’s can help find solutions.”

The COVID-19 crisis has overstretched health systems globally and disrupted essential services including sexual and reproductive health services, services related to women and girls are often the first to be put aside. This can have lasting consequences on the population, such as increase in unintended pregnancies and gender-based violence. Disruptions in access and limitations in mobility can disproportionately impact women and girls including reducing their ability to make decisions about their time, their bodies and health.

The UNFPA flagship report: State of the World Population (SWOP) 2021 indicates that about half of the women worldwide are denied the right to decide on their sexual and reproductive health, including seeking health care or choosing whether and when to have a child. More than two hundred million women globally wish to use contraceptives but do not have access to the services. Disruption or delays of services will further curtail the health and well-being of women and girls, consequences that will impact them, their communities and economies.

In the Lao PDR, to highlight and address the rights of women and girls, the innovative Noi framework and Noi ecosystem highlights key data and interventions being systematically undertaken to tackle issues which hold girls back, such as school drop out rates, child marriage, adolescent pregnancy, child labour amongst others.

In Laos, the adolescent birth rate is highest amongst the ASEAN countries with further disparities in country. In rural areas without roads, the adolescent birth rate was 121 persons per 1,000 live births compared to 89 per 1,000 live births in rural areas with roads and 44 per 1,000 live births in urban areas. The adolescent birth rate amongst mothers with no education (155 per 1,000 live births) is six times the rate for mothers who have attained tertiary education (26 per 1,000). To leave no one behind, targeted interventions are required.

Gender-based violence, mental health and psychosocial issues, burden of care for women and girls amongst other issues have also increased during the crisis. According to the information from the Lao Women Union, Lao Youth Union, and Vientiane Youth Centre, more than 7,000 hotline and helpline calls have been received since 2020.

Ms Phonvanh Outhavong said that “we must protect the rights of women and girls, children, adolescent and young people, and mitigate the impacts on their health and well-being. I call for collective action and partnership across all sectors to leverage our existing resources including the demographic dividend, providing information and services on sexual and reproductive health including comprehensive sexuality education.”

UNFPA Country Representative Mariam A. Khan acknowledged the tremendous effort that the Lao government has made towards achieving the ICPD. “As the pandemic impacts all sectors, UNFPA is increasing support for actions that protect the progress and gains made in women and girl’s health and wellbeing. We are expanding partnerships, leveraging funds and innovating to mitigate impact on women and girls.” Ms. Khan urged that “if we are to support the Lao government to deliver on the national ICPD25 commitments, which are an essential stepping stone to the SDGs, we must prioritize SRH and rights and ensure women’s empowerment and autonomy, even during COVID19.”

Source: Lao News Agency

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN FAO) on July 12 provided vital equipment and supplies to better prepare the Lao PDR in addressing COVID-19 outbreaks.

FAO, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provided Smart Testing Booths, reagents and supplies for COVID-19 testing to the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE) of the Department of Communicable Disease Control (DCDC). The provision of much needed equipment and supplies shows the vital work that FAO is doing as part of the United Nations Global Humanitarian Response Plan. The Plan was aimed at supporting governments of member countries to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have stepped up efforts to helping countries beyond our mandate of improving nutrition, increasing agricultural productivity, raising the standard of living in rural populations and contributing to global economic growth,” FAO Representative to the Lao PDR Nasar Hayat said at the handover ceremony of the equipment and supplies.

Joining Mr. Hayat were Minister of Health Bounfeng Phommalaysith, and department heads of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

They oversaw the turnover of 37,810 US Dollars or about LAK 370.8 million worth of sample collection booths and laboratory supplies to the Lao PDR government. The equipment and supplies will be distributed to hospitals or provinces as needed.

FAO has also technically supported the Lao PDR government in minimizing COVID-19 impacts especially on food security and livelihoods. The animal health sector is also being supported with FAO providing technical expertise in assisting the human health sector in the investigation, laboratory diagnosis and tracing of COVID-19 cases.

There have been overseas reports of COVID-19 infection in animals. This is a scenario that FAO is especially helping the Lao PDR to minimize the risks of COVID-19 infection in animals and, possible, further spread of the virus.

FAO, with USAID funding, have trained field border officers in northern, central, southern provinces to improve surveillance, disease inspection, sample collection, infection prevention, control and environmental cleaning practice. The training workshop allowed the officers to share lessons learned and experiences in the prevention and response to COVID-19.

Among the trainees included public and animal health officers, and immigration police officers. Mr Hayat also said that calibration and certification services were provided for biosafety cabinets in the Lao PDR.

Source: Lao News Agency

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry held today a fish release activity on the Nong Kham Sen wetland, Vientiane to celebrate the National Aquatic and Wildlife Day – July 13.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bounkhuang Khambounheuang, Vice Mayor of Vientiane Phoukhong Bannavong, Director of the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department Laxay Nouanthasing and representative of relevant authorities attended the fish release event.

Nong Kham Sen wetland is a 86-ha reservoir located 20 km east of Vientiane.

“Particularly in the dry season,” Chairman of the Nong Kham Sen Wetland Management Committee Ounkeng Phommasene said, “1,779 households from the six villages around the wetland catch fish and collect vegetables for their domestic consumption in this area. This has motivated the majority of local people to protect the biodiversity of this wetland for future generations.”

Nong Kham Sen’s future is not yet secure due to overfishing, the pumping of groundwater for agriculture and the seepage of sewerage. All of which damage its conservation values.

The biodiversity values of Nong Kham Sen have been recognised by the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) and other international agencies, who have encouraged the surrounding villages to develop their own management regulations with the support of local officials and are currently preparing to construct a Green Education Centre with walking and cycle trails which will benefit both visitors and local residents.

In his speech, Director of the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department Laxay Nouanthasing acknowledged the past efforts made by the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department in conserving aquatic resources.

He noted, “between 1994 and 2020, over 30 million fingerlings were released across the municipality, and that another two million would be released this year.”

Mr Laxay thanked government authorities from all sectors as well as the local community for their participation in these activities, as well as the technical support of Agriculture and Forestry Consultants (AFDC) which is facilitating project activities on behalf of WWF.

Following the speeches, the attendees led by Mr Bounkouang released 250,000 fish fingerlings into the wetland. As the last fish frolicked into the weeds, the blessings of the monks from the Sithan Tai Forest Temple echoed over the still waters, wishing all guests and fish a safe journey in future.

Source: Lao News Agency

TOKYO – Japan will make additional donations of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan and other Asian neighbors this week, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday.

Japan will ship 1 million doses each to Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam on Thursday as part of bilateral deals with those governments, Motegi told reporters.

An additional 11 million doses donated through the COVAX sharing scheme will be sent this month to Bangladesh, Cambodia, Iran, Laos, Nepal and Sri Lanka, as well as various Pacific Island states, he said.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry expressed thanks for the gesture, particularly at a serious stage in Japan’s own coronavirus battle. Japan has donated about 3.4 million doses to Taiwan in a show of support for the Chinese-claimed island.

“The friendship between Taiwan and Japan is unwavering,” the Taiwan ministry said in a statement. “The Foreign Ministry once again thanks our partners in freedom and democracy for their warm assistance and strong support.”

In a statement, Vietnam said it would receive a million doses from Japan on Friday in Ho Chi Minh City, where it is fighting its largest outbreak yet after months of successful containment.

“It is encouraging that a number of richer countries have made generous pledges and donations of vaccines to countries in Asia in recent weeks,” said Alexander Matheou of aid group the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

“We need to speed up the delivery of these lifesaving doses so that we can get them into people’s arms, giving us a genuine shot at containing this pandemic once and for all.”

Taiwan has complained that Chinese interference blocked its deal this year to secure vaccines from Germany’s BioNTech, charges Beijing has denied. Since then, vaccine donations have rolled into Taiwan.

Taiwan’s relatively small domestic COVID-19 outbreak has generally been brought under control, except for a few sporadic community infections.

Japan has pledged $1 billion and 30 million doses to COVAX. Motegi said on Tuesday the AstraZeneca doses made in Japan were approved by the World Health Organization on July 9 for use in COVAX.

Source: Voice of America