Laos 1,000 Days Program: Stories of Change

Lamvong and her son Sambom (1 year, 2 months) Vilabouly District

Lamvong sits at a health outreach site in Vilabouly District with her 14 month old son, Sambom. She has come to the outreach clinic today, as she does every three months, to ensure Sambom accesses regular health services as he grows through the critical first 1,000 days of his life.

The 1,000 Days Program is implemented in collaboration between UNICEF Lao PDR, the Ministry of Health and Lao Women’s Union, with support from long term partner MMG. Its aim is to improve the nutritional status of infants and young children in rural areas of Lao PDR. Good nutrition is critical to children’s physical and cognitive development and has long lasting impacts on children throughout their lives. In the province of Savannakhet, where Lamvong lives, stunting in children is high, at 30%. Stunting, is a result of chronic undernutrition and in Lao PDR presents a significant challenge. The 1,000 Days program aims to address stunting and micronutrient deficiencies through taking a broad approach to promoting care practices, such as exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months, ensuring children eat a diverse range of nutritious foods beyond 6 months, handwashing and hygiene practices.

Today, at the health outreach clinic, Sambom is weighed and measured to monitor his growth, and Lamvong collects a three month supply of Super Kid, a micronutrient powder especially designed to supplement the diet of children aged 6 months to 2 years to support their physical and cognitive development during this crucial period. Members of the Lao Women’s Union also give a cooking demonstration, showing how MNP can be added to different types of local food for best effect.

Lamvong proudly talks about the good health of her children. Recognising this, her friends and neighbours ask her for advice on how to keep their babies healthy and as we talk Lamvong asks for advice about what to do when children have poor appetite so that she can share this information with her peers. “I like to help others”, she says, knowing that successes with her children can inspire those around her.

The same day, Vice Chief of Village, Syda shares her experiences of the 1,000 Days Program. Syda has been closely involved in her role as Vice Chief, and also as an active member of the Lao Women’s Union, sharing important nutrition information with parents in her village.

Syda (right) – Vice Chief of Village (Muangluang), Vilabouly District

Since the 1,000 Days program began in her village, Syda has seen big changes. “Children are more healthy”, she says. Where in the past diarrhoea and fever were common, this is happening less and less as hygiene and nutrition practices improve.

Phone, with Bounmy (9 months)

In a nearby district of Atsaphone, Phone is receiving Super Kid for the first time. This is the first time the micronutrient powder has been distributed to her village and the health outreach clinic commences with an information session from Lao Women’s Union volunteers on infant and young child feeding practices.

For many parents in her village, knowledge of nutrition requirements for young children is limited and these information sessions provide an opportunity to build knowledge around these needs, particularly during the 1,000 Day period.

Phone says that she appreciates receiving this extra information about her daughter’s growth and development and is ready to start adding Super Kid to meals for Bounmy.

“I will use Super Kid to make my baby healthy and strong” she says.