Ms Carol Mortensen interacts with the host at the project closure event.       --Photo Plan International Laos

Small contribution - a big impact

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 its achievements during ceremonies marking the closure of its projects in the two provinces. In Ta-oy district of Saravan province and Pakbaeng and Houn districts of Oudomxay province, pregnant women, newborns, mothers and community members have improved access to health services, 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 phase III of an integrated health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene project early this year, and the project has made 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 by 2030.
This project led to behaviour change and improved the communication skills of community-led total sanitation committees, provided community water systems where required, and ensured that hygiene and sanitation practices are sustained in the target communities.
Ms Carol Mortensen, the Country Director of Plan International Laos, said: “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.”
She highlighted the significance of having latrines to provide a safe and secure space for girls and young women to do personal hygiene, including menstruation management. “They don’t need to go toileting in the bush anymore. It keeps those villagers and community members healthy and protected,” she said.
“We are proud of being part of driving the movement of the country’s aim to achieve open defecation-free communities in 2025,” added Ms Mortensen.
Eighty-four percent of target villages and communities were certified as open-defecation-free areas, which means more than 95 percent of the population in target areas owns latrines and regularly uses them, wash their hands with soap, and drink boiled water.
Fifty-seven out of 59 villages in Pakbaeng and Houn districts and 61 out of 81 villages in Saravan and Ta-oy districts received open defecation-free certificates from the district health offices. This number has shown that some villagers and community members in the target areas are yet to change their behaviour 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 10 health centres and mother and child annexes, fully equipped with facilities such as 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, and chlorination systems for water treatment in health centers. These 10 health centres aim to serve more than 41,000 people across their catchment areas.
The “True Friend” approach enhanced the cleanliness, safety and friendly client-centred services and motivated more mothers and children, including vulnerable people and people with disabilities, to visit the health centres.
Ms Mortensen said, “We have improved all dimensions of health conditions, starting from day zero of the baby’s life until they are 1,000 days old.” She said that the first 1000 days of life is a crucial period for the mental and physical development of the foetus. From the time a mother notices that her menstruation doesn’t arrive, she has to start taking care of her well-being, eating nutritious food and stopping risky activities, behaviour and drinking. 
On the other hand, her husband must care for and pay more attention to his wife and the foetus during this time. Women must regularly visit the health centre for antenatal care and foetus monitoring, and go to the health centre 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. Ms Mortensen urged villagers and community members to visit the health centres whenever they feel unwell.
--Source: Plan International Laos

(Latest Update October 18, 2022)