Plan International Laos has contributed to improving the lives of babies and mothers in rural areas of Saravan and Oudomxay Province this year in collaboration with central, provincial, and district government health partners.
In late September 2022, Plan International Laos announced the achievement during the project closure ceremonies in two provinces, Saravan and Oudomxay. In Ta Oi, Saravan, Pakbeng, and Houn Districts, pregnant women, newborns, mothers, and community members get improved health services access and water, hygiene, and sanitation practices. It was made possible by Australian Aid, Plan Australia, Plan Germany, Plan USA, and individual donors through Plan International Laos.
Plan International Laos launched an Integrated Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project – phase III – early this year, and the project has yet to make significant contributions to a reduction in stunting in girls and boys aged 0-23 months and improved nutrition in women in 140 communities in its target areas. This outstanding success has contributed to the National Nutrition Strategy 2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 6 that ensure zero hunger and access to clean water and sanitation for all in 2030.
This project improved the behavior change communication skills of the community-led total sanitation committees – provided community water systems where required – and ensured that sustains hygiene and sanitation practices in the communities.
“Most villages and communities that we worked in now have access to water and sanitation, and their continuous good hygiene practices directly support and improve the health condition of children and adolescent people, especially girls and young women,” said Ms. Carol Mortensen, the Country Director of Plan International Laos.
She highlighted the significance of having latrines to provide a safe and secure space for girls and young women to do personal hygiene – menstruation management – they don’t need to go toileting in the bush anymore. It keeps those villagers and community members healthy and protected.
“We are proud of being part of driving the movement of the country’s aim to achieve open defecation-free achievement in 2025,” added Ms. Mortensen.
84% of target villages and communities were certified as open-defecation-free villages, which is more than 95% of the population in target areas owns latrines and regularly utilize them, wash their hands with soap, and drink boiled water.
57 out of 59 villages in Pakbeng and Houn districts and 61 out of 81 villages in Saravan and Ta Oi districts received open defecation-free certificates from the district health offices. This number has shown that villagers and community members in the target areas are yet to change their behaviors and approach improved health conditions. Nevertheless, health centers, medical equipment, and services are ready to serve patients, pregnant women, mothers, and children.
Plan International Laos also provided ten health centers and mother and child annexes fully equipped with facilities like pregnancy examination tables, obstetric delivery tables, fetal doppler machines, medical trolleys, neonatal resuscitations, electric autoclaves, delivery instrument sets, medical oxygen tanks, manual wheelchairs, patient stretcher trolley, medicine cabinets, document storages, gravity-fed water system with water filter systems, chlorine chlorination system for water treatment in health centers. These ten health centers aim to serve over 41,000 people across their catchment areas.
The ‘True friend’ Approach enhanced the cleanliness, safety, and friendly client-centered services and motivated more mothers and children, including vulnerable people and people with disabilities, to visit the health centers.
Ms. Mortensen says, “We have improved all dimensions of health conditions, starting from day zero of the baby’s life until they are 1000 days old.” She said that the first 1000 days of life is a crucial period for the mental and physical development of the fetus – from the time a mother notices that her menstruation doesn’t arrive, the mother has to start taking care of her well-being, eating nutritious food and stopping risky activities, behaviours, and drinking.
On the other hand, her husband must care for and pay more attention to his wife and the fetus during this time. Women must regularly visit the health center for antenatal care and fetus monitoring, and go to the health center for the delivery of the child with the support of skilled birth attendants. This is essential to ensure newborns and mothers are safe and healthy. She also urges villagers and community members to visit the health centers when they feel unwell.
Source: Lao News Agency
