Continuing her series of meetings with senior Lao leaders, the UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and Pacific, Ms. Debora Comini, today paid a courtesy call to Dr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Deputy Prime Minister of the Lao PDR.
Ms. Comini’s is visiting the Lao PDR for the first time as Regional Director to take part in the UNICEF Regional Management Team Meeting, a high-level gathering of regional leaders to discuss children’s situation in the region and how to achieve results for children. As part of her visit, she is also meeting with multiple senior leaders of the Lao PDR.
During this courtesy visit, the two leaders discussed the Lao Government and UNICEF’s long-standing partnership as well as how UNICEF can further support Lao women and children, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing challenges of food insecurity and financial pressures.
“The Government of the Lao PDR highly values its decades-long partnership with UNICEF, which has helped to deliver results for every Lao child to this day, from improved hygiene, health and nutritional outcomes, to ensuring quality education and adequate social protection for families,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Dr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune also thanked UNICEF for providing vital assistance to the Lao PDR’s COVID-19 response, including the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines and their support in the national vaccination campaign, alongside efforts to protect children’s health and learning and ensure the safe reopening of schools.
Ms. Debora Comini also commended the Lao Government’s robust leadership in managing the national COVID-19 response as well as other key achievements, such as the recent declaration of Vientiane Capital as the first open defecation free capital city in ASEAN. She additionally thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for his leadership in the area of nutrition as well as women, children and maternal health and child rights as Chair of both the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children (NCAWMC) and the National Nutrition Forum.
“UNICEF looks forward to strengthening our partnership with the Lao Government and to further provide tailored support across key areas for every child and young person in Lao PDR” remarked Ms. Comini.

Source: Lao News Agency