VIENTIANE: The government is working with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) to ensure that every child in Laos has access to life-saving vaccines, with a renewed focus on community engagement and media outreach.
A talk on the topic, titled “Promoting Child Health in the Lao PDR through Vaccination and Strengthening Media and Community Engagement” and chaired by the President of the Lao Front for National Development, Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, was organised in Vientiane on Wednesday (March 19) to encourage a more united effort in disease prevention and child healthcare.
Officials stressed that immunisation remains the most effective shield against life-threatening diseases and is a top government priority.
The Ministry of Health is currently strengthening vaccination services to ensure that no child, especially those living in remote areas, is left behind and unprotected.
Prof.Dr Kikeo praised the collective efforts of local authorities and international partners, including Unicef, for their ongoing success in healthcare delivery.
At the same time, he urged all agencies to work more closely and to clearly define their roles to ensure smoother operations.
“We must transform Party policy into practical action through widespread education,” Dr Kikeo said.
He highlighted the importance of using non-Lao languages and respecting the cultural traditions of local communities in order to build trust.
He also encouraged the involvement of respected community leaders to help change health behaviours.
In addition, he called for the creation of “model health families” within the Lao Front for National Development network to inspire others and boost confidence in public health services.
The talk concluded with a call for continued support from Unicef and other development partners to further strengthen Laos’ healthcare services and ensure a healthy future for all children. - Vientiane Times/ANN
