Mr Bounkong Syhavong shakes hands with Ms Hongwei Gao after signing an agreement (Photo: KPL)Hanoi (VNA) - The UN International Children's Emergency Fund has provided 7.2million USD for interventions in health, nutrition, and the Water, Sanitationand Hygiene (WASH) programme in rural areas of Laos, according to Lao newsagency KPL.
Thesigning ceremony for the Health/Nutrition and WASH Multi-Year Work Plan2017-2018 was held on March 17 in Vientiane.
“Thecooperation between UNICEF and the Ministry of Health will ensure that the mostdisadvantaged children and their families receive integrated maternal and childhealth immunization and nutrition services, that they have equitable access toand use of sustainable improved water sources and sanitation facilities, andadopt hygienic practices,” UNICEF Country Representative to Laos Hongwei Gaowas quoted by KPL as saying at the ceremony.
Thecooperation will strengthen district health systems to ensure theimplementation of the essential service package and support the implementationof nutrition specific interventions including the feeding of infants and youngchildren.
KPLsaid the work plan 2017-2018 will also support community service delivery ofhigh impact new-born and child interventions to address morbidity due to commoncomplications. It will implement WASH and climate change resilience policies,including the national strategy on rural water, sanitation and hygiene, andconduct reviews of guidelines, standards and designs of packages for WASHfacilities in communities and schools.
TheWASH programme will be implemented in selected schools and communities.-VNA
