Category: Legal

The 2nd stakeholders briefing on the 5th Population and Housing Census 2025 (PHC) was chaired by Deputy Head of Lao Statistics Bureau Phetsamone Sone, and co-chair UNFPA Representative to Lao PDR Mariam A. KHAN.

The detailed plan and budget for PHC 2025 were presented. Participants from the government, development partners and potential donors attended the virtual meeting.

Following the initial stakeholder meeting conducted last year, today’s meeting presented progress on preparations, the detailed plan and budget, and the steering and technical committees to oversee the Census process.

Deputy Head of Lao Statistics Bureau Phetsamone Sone thanked UNFPA and partners for contributing to the previous PHC both financially and technically, “the next census will serve as a solid reference for the evaluation of the implementation of the 9th National Social and Economic Development Plans (NSEDP) and the preparation of the voluntary national review on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Ms Sone.

The PHC collects information about everyone in the country. The census data are at the core of NSEDP and SDGs, with 45 per cent of SDG indicators requiring reliable population disaggregated data, geographically precise data are vital to leaving no one behind and serving those with the greatest need first.

For the 5th PHC, the Government will innovate, use digital technologies which will also be environmentally-friendly for data collection. It is estimated that the next census will cost approximately USD22.2 Million. As in the previous census, the Government of the Lao PDR is expected to cover around 50% of the census costs, however, donors are requested to support the remaining census costs through provision of resources and in kind contributions as well as technical expertise.

Ms. Mariam A. KHAN, UNFPA Representative, said, “The census is one of the largest and most complex peacetime exercises a country undertakes. It is often the sole data source on all persons in the country. It underpins national statistical ecosystems.” She added that “as the lead UN Agency supporting census, UNFPA prioritizes strengthening national capacities to successfully conduct census operations and analyze, disseminate and use the census data.”

In the Lao PDR, a PHC is conducted every ten years under the country’s Statistics Law No.03/NS, dated June 30, 2010 (amended May 11, 2017) and the United Nations recommendation on conducting a nationwide census. The next PHC is set to run in 2025. UNFPA and LSB are preparing for the next census according to the census roadmap which outlines activities and stakeholder engagement in each phase leading up to 2025.

Source: Lao News Agency

Some 3,887 vulnerable farmers in Luang Prabang and Oudomxay Provinces will receive local and improved breeds of chicken between April and June 2022 from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The support, valued at 2.32 billion kip, will boost egg production thus helping communities recover from the economic hardships caused by the COVID 19 pandemic and strengthening resilience to future shocks.

FAO project, titled “Assistance for Smallholders and Socially Vulnerable to Prevent Spread of the COVID-19 in the Lao PDR,” funded by the Government of Japan, will support the most vulnerable households (approximately 37,000 people) in 55 villages of seven districts in Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces.

Beneficiaries include women-headed households, vulnerable families, producer groups, youth and returning migrant workers.

FAO chose local and improved breeds of poultry due to its high economic, market and household value and suitability for remote and mountainous locations. The distributed chicken with proper care might be more productive, thus providing high returns for the farmers.

The chickens will be checked by veterinarians and vaccinated before they are handed over to the farmers. Beneficiaries will receive training on chicken husbandry, including meat and egg production, and marketing.

Source: Lao News Agency

The United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided the Protective Equipment (PPE) and disinfectant materials to the Department of Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

The handover ceremony was held at the Department of Livestock and Fisheries in Vientiane on Apr 25 between Director General of the Department of Livestock and Fisheries Vilayphone Vorraphim, USAID Country Representative to Laos Michael Ronning and FAO Representative to the Lao PDR Hayat Nasar.

The support will ensure the safety of veterinarians and animal health workers investigating animal diseases in the field and aid in preventing disease spread. The generous support was made possible by the U.S. Government through USAID under the Global Health Security Project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

At the handover ceremony, Ms Vilayphone Vorraphim expressed her gratitude to FAO and the U.S. Government through USAID on the PPE and disinfectant materials donated.

“Because the Lao PDR has long borders with all its five neighbors and as there is substantial cross-border trade of livestock and livestock products, there is a high risk of the introduction of common and new emerging animal transmissible diseases. With this donation from USAID, veterinarians and animal health workers will be ensured for their safety when investigating animal diseases in the field and in the laboratories,” she said.

“This is especially the case with zoonotic diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, brucellosis, leptospirosis and rabies,” she added.

The supplies consist of full body suits, masks, gloves, goggles, shoe protectors and disinfectant that have a total combined value of over USD 50,000. The supplies will be delivered to all 148 districts in the Lao PDR to ensure each district is prepared for any unexpected outbreak of transboundary animal diseases or zoonotic diseases (transmissible to humans) which are common in the South-East Asia region.

At the ceremony, Mr. Michael Ronning highlighted the expanding U.S.-Lao Comprehensive Partnership. “USAID is committed to supporting the Lao PDR under the Partnership in the fight against zoonotic diseases and other health threats including COVID-19. We value the collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and FAO in this important work.”

Mr. Hayat Nasar stressed that livestock diseases have severely adverse impact not only for farmers but also on the food system, food security and nutrition, and income security, for the rural population, especially for the poor and the most vulnerable. Many people, especially in the rural population have been pushed back to hunger and poverty due to the loss of livestock caused by diseases such as African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza. Only through our partnership and collaboration, we could fight these transboundary diseases effectively, save livestock and human lives and gradually build back better.

He also emphasized that FAO stands committed in continuing its support to assist the Government to better deal with livestock diseases and thanks to the USAID contribution and partnership to support the Government of the Lao PDR in combating poverty and hardship.

Source: Lao News Agency

The United Nations Children’s Fund has appreciated the government of the Lao PDR upon its immunisation efforts to save children’s lives and raise the healthy country.

UNICEF thanks all the partners, who united their forces to vaccinate every child in the Lao PDR. To date, with support from development partners such GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance, Japan Committee for Vaccine, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Korea International Cooperation Agency, Lao Lux-Development, Save the Children Australia, Swiss Red Cross, the United States Agency for International Development, the Government of the Lao PDR provides routine vaccination to all children free of cost.

To end preventable diseases, the Government launched National Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1982.

In the past, the Lao PDR has faced the brunt of diseases such as Smallpox, Polio, Measles and Rubella. Thanks to the leadership, commitment and cooperation of the Government and partners, the National Expanded Programme has successfully eradicated Polio.

UNICEF also applauds the Government of the Lao PDR for turning the political will into the action to save the children lives and raising the healthy nation and appreciates all health workers in Laos who go the extra mile to deliver and provide vaccinations to every child across the country, from north to south, all the way from a bustling city to a quiet rural village.

Source: Lao News Agency

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the AIF Group to allow the company to conduct a feasibility study into the modernisation of the database on the prosecution monitoring, organisational and personal affairs, planning and international cooperation of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The agreement was signed on Apr 12 between Deputy President of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Khampheth Somvolachit and Vice President of Advisory Board of AIF Group Lattanamany Khounnivong in the presence of relevant officials of both sides. If the study results suggest the database development is possible, both sides will prepare a project and submit it to the government for consideration of approval.

The signing is among priorities stated in the five-year development plan of the Public Prosecutor’s Office 2021-2025.

Source: Lao News Agency

Some 2,115 new Covid-19 cases and two new fatalities attributed to Covid-19 have been reported over the previous 24 hours, bringing the total to 188,985 including 4,900 active cases and 684 deaths.

Deputy Director General of the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology, Ministry of Health Dr Buaphanh Khamphaphongphan told a press conference on Wednesday that the highest number of domestic transmissions was documented in Vientiane with 1,167 cases, followed by Vientiane (province) 107, Savannakhet 86, Luang Prabang 77, and Borikhamxay 72.

The new infections were detected among 4,631 samples tested for Covid-19 yesterday. Of the new infections, 2,088 were classified as domestic transmissions and 27 as imported cases. On Tuesday, some 528 Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospitals nationwide.

As of Apr 6, over 5.5 million people, representing 77.06% of population in the country, have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Centre of Information and Education for Health, Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, the number of people fully vaccinated against the coronavirus currently stands at 4.4 million, accounting for 62.04% of the population, and those given a booster shot represent 17% of the population.

Source: Lao News Agency