tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16513377517723785792024-03-29T10:28:35.655+07:00UNICEF LaosUNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-12728112566020976042018-11-29T16:30:00.000+07:002018-11-29T16:30:44.076+07:00The Government of France and UNICEF Renew Their Commitment to Strengthen Child Protection System in Lao PDR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Vientiane, Lao PDR, 10 October 2018</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> – The Ambassador of France to Lao PDR, Florence Jeanblanc-Risler, and Octavian Bivol, UNICEF Representative, signed today a new agreement to continue working together towards child protection system strengthening in Laos with a focus on the development and implementation of a regulatory framework on national and international adoptions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“This agreement highlights the commitment of the Government of France to support the most vulnerable children in the country and adds to the remarkable work that the Government and development partners like UNICEF are doing to ensure every child is protected and grows in a safe environment,” said Ms. Jeanblanc-Risler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">With this new grant, the total amount mobilized over the last five years stands at EUR 74,000. Thanks to this contribution, the Ministry of Justice, with support from UNICEF, conducted an assessment on child protection and adoption in Lao PDR. In addition, the funding contributed to develop a new Adoption Decree, in alignment with international standards. The Decree was signed by the Prime Minister in June 2014. Following the approval of the decree, the Adoption Committee, consisting of members from justice, social welfare and health sectors were set up at national, provincial and district levels across the country. To raise awareness about the new Decree, training manuals were developed and a trainer of trainer workshop was conducted and subsequently trainings were held at subnational levels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In this new collaboration phase, priority will be given to the development of an effective mechanism to enforce and monitor the implementation of the Adoption Decree which will contribute to strengthening of a child protection system in Lao PDR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Strengthening the capacity of government staff as well as para social workers at national, provincial, district and village levels for better case management is crucial, and the agreement we signed today will contribute to this. In addition, a district, provincial and national register for children without parental care will be established,” said Mr. Bivol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Moreover, the grant will help raise awareness about the Adoption Decree on both domestic and intercountry adoption to create an enabling environment to pave the way for the ratification of The Hague Convention on Inter Country Adoption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) states that every child has the right to grow up in a family environment, to know and be cared for by her or his own family, whenever possible. When a child’s family is unavailable, unable or unwilling to care for her/him, then appropriate and stable family-based solutions should be sought to enable the child to grow up in a loving, caring and supportive environment. Intercountry adoption is among the range of stable care options. For individual children who cannot be cared for in a family setting in their country of origin, intercountry adoption may be the best permanent solution, when pursued in conformity with the standards and principles of the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of intercountry Adoptions – currently ratified by 95 countries</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">About UNICEF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Lao PDR, visit</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.unicef.org/laos"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.unicef.org/laos</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uniceflaos/"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/UNICEFLaos"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/UNICEFLaoPDR"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">YouTube</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> and at </span><a href="https://www.unicef.org/laos/"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">www.unicef.org </span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">About the Embassy of France<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://la.ambafrance.org/-L-Ambassade-"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">https://la.ambafrance.org/-L-Ambassade-</span></a><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ambassade.france.laos/"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/FranceAuLaos"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For more information, please contact:</span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Maria Fernandez, UNICEF Lao PDR, (+856) 2055519681, </span><a href="mailto:mfernandez@unicef.org"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">mfernandez@unicef.org</span></a><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tabongphet Phouthavong, UNCEF Lao PDR, (+856) 2096888890, </span><a href="mailto:tphouthavong@unicef.org"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">tphouthavong@unicef.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hilaire Bergeron, French Embassy in Lao PDR, (+856) 2076026278 </span><a href="mailto:hilaire.bergeron@diplomatie.gouv.fr"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">hilaire.bergeron@diplomatie.gouv.fr</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Department of Cooperation and Cultural Action, French Embassy in Lao PDR </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:scac.vientiane-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr">scac.vientiane-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr</a></span></div>
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UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-63996562348726445842018-10-10T16:46:00.001+07:002018-10-10T16:46:41.368+07:00Press release: The Government, EU and UNICEF launch the National Information Platforms for Nutrition in Laos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Vientiane, 5 October 2018 – </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, H.E Dr. Kikeo Chanthaboury, launched today the National Information Platforms for Nutrition (NIPN) which aims at strengthening information systems for nutrition to prevent malnutrition and its consequences. This is an international initiative</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> of the European Union with support from the United Kingdom Department for International development (DFID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to be implemented in the Lao PDR by UNICEF. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This nutrition information system will generate quality data, perform analyses, track progress and use the information for policy development, contributing to expanding and scaling up effective programmes, and allocating more public funding for nutrition activities. Thanks to this information platform children will benefit from better results. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“The establishment and use of the NIPN initiative will help the Lao PDR to strengthen national capacity to manage and analyse information and data from all sectors which have an influence on nutrition, to track progress, and to disseminate and use information to better inform the policies and strategic decisions that prevent undernutrition and its consequences,” H.E Dr. Chanthaboury said at the launch event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The overall goal of NIPN is to contribute to the global reduction of stunting (chronic undernutrition) in alignment with the World Health Assembly 2025 targets. Particularly, this initiative will strengthen capacities in the Lao PDR to monitor progress towards under nutrition reduction, contributing to implement more cost-effective and evidence-based policies.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">According to the Lao Social Indicator Survey (LSIS-II, 2017), stunting has decreased from 44 per cent in LSIS-I to 33 per cent. Despite this positive downward trend, significant disparities remain across the 18 provinces. Between 2015 (Lao Child Anthropometric Assessment Survey) and 2017, a slight but not significant decrease has occurred in the prevalence of children under 5 years of age who suffer from wasting or acute malnutrition (low weight for height) from 9.6 per cent to 9.0 per cent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">“Strengthening</span><span lang="EN-GB"> the multi-sectoral approach to combat all forms of malnutrition is </span><span lang="EN-GB">also dependent on the availability of nutrition information and related systems. It is an essential step </span><span lang="EN-GB">to establish a national information platform that has the capabilities to generate information for policy dialogue and debate and that will contribute significantly to how nutrition programmes can be improved to meet changing conditions and the future context,” stated H.E Mr. Leo Faber, Ambassador of the European Union to the Lao PDR. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Comprehensive data generated from the NIPN will be the basis for the National Nutrition Committee’s Annual Progress Report on the implementation of the National Nutrition Strategy to 2025 and Plan of Action to 2020 (NNSPA) and monitoring and reporting of the 8th National Socio-economic Development Plan, Sustainable Development Goals and Scaling Up Nutrition movement, monitoring. This will also provide significant information for monitoring and reporting of SDGs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“The information collected through NIPN will feed into the annual National Nutrition Forums, Round Table Meetings and review meetings. With this system in place, we will be able to maximize the analysis and interpretation of existing information and data on nutrition to understand better the factors that influence it,” explained Octavian Bivol, UNICEF Representative, Lao PDR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This NIPN initiative will be an integral part of the Government nutrition programme, which is supported and implemented jointly by EU Delegation and UNICEF in the context of their Partnership for Improved Nutrition in the Lao PDR in support of the National Nutrition Strategy to 2025 and Plan of Action 2016-2020. The NIPN project will be implemented by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the National Economic Research Institute (NIER) with support from related line ministries and partners over a 4-year period from 2018 – 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">About UNICEF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Lao PDR, visit</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.unicef.org/laos"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">http://www.unicef.org/laos</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uniceflaos/"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/UNICEFLaos"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/UNICEFLaoPDR"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">YouTube</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> and at </span><a href="https://www.unicef.org/laos/"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">www.unicef.org </span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">About the European Union<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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The European Union and our member states is the biggest provider of Official Development Assistance as well as humanitarian aid in the world. We work on reducing poverty; ensuring sustainable development; promoting democracy, peace and security in the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For more information about us, visit <a href="http://europa.eu/">http://europa.eu/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">To learn about European Union's work in Laos, please follow </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/EUinlaos"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/euinlaos"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> and our </span><a href="https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/lao-pdr_en"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">website</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">For more information, please contact:</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><b><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Maria Fernandez,</span></b><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> UNICEF Lao PDR, (+856) 2055519681, </span><a href="mailto:mfernandez@unicef.org"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">mfernandez@unicef.org</span></a><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tabongphet Phouthavong</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, UNCEF Lao PDR, (+856) 2096888890, </span><a href="mailto:tphouthavong@unicef.org"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">tphouthavong@unicef.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thongvone SOSAMPHAN</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, Press and Information Officer, EU Delegation in Laos, (+856) 20 52826193, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="mailto:Thongvone.SOSAMPHAN@eeas.europa.eu">Thongvone.SOSAMPHAN@eeas.europa.eu</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-31509423526813202352018-10-06T10:48:00.002+07:002018-11-29T16:30:53.019+07:00Giving children the right start in life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Mike Saycon</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA93sMFVcaH6zh5XeXO4S8TK7mFA-JCVMlZcXlbvPH8SiQ1nIVB5u-z1u7cZqsuLRImR3VwrpIybGndIb6ufaUU7gUyHNioWuGEfgmWw0Ly0Eoyky64ktuqqbD-NPdQe7H85_G1zJkDnE/s1600/IMG_5675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA93sMFVcaH6zh5XeXO4S8TK7mFA-JCVMlZcXlbvPH8SiQ1nIVB5u-z1u7cZqsuLRImR3VwrpIybGndIb6ufaUU7gUyHNioWuGEfgmWw0Ly0Eoyky64ktuqqbD-NPdQe7H85_G1zJkDnE/s320/IMG_5675.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Loulli
has just woken up from her nap, eager to play with her older sister and cousins.
At eight months, she is full of energy and easily responds to her playmates’
clowning around with a giggle, and tries to stand on her feet. But just three
months ago, her story was very different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">At five
months, Loulli was getting recurrent fevers, and her mother Khamvilay started
to worry she weighed less than the other children in the neighbourhood. After
bouts of fever and lack of appetite, Loulli was diagnosed with Moderate Acute
Malnutrition (MAM) at the Xepone District Hospital. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">“She was
really healthy and growing taller,” – or so she thought – “but had little
appetite whether for breastmilk or for other food,” Khamvilay says; adding she
had little to worry about since she was breastfeeding her. She simply attributed
Loulli’s low weight to her poor appetite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">After
the MAM diagnosis, Khamvilay doubled her effort to breastfeed her daughter, and
introduced into her diet rice porridge mixed with mashed vegetables, and
SuperKid [a mix of vitamins and minerals added to food to prevent micronutrient
deficiencies], provided by UNICEF to local health centres. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Along
with advice on feeding Loulli, doctors and nurses at Xephone Hospital monitored
Khamvilay’s health to be sure she was also healthy – especially because while
pregnant she had repeated fevers and allergy attacks. She initially suspected
her daughter’s condition was caused by her inability to produce enough milk or
the little girl’s poor appetite, but Maternal and Child Health staff assured
her this was not entirely the problem, and could be addressed with proper complementary
feeding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Now
that Loulli is well on the way to recovery, she has gained 1.3 kilograms in just
three months, growing from 5.8 kg to 7.3 kg now. “Still slow compared with
other children,” says Somsanouk, MCH nurse who attended to Loulli at the clinic,
“but I am confident she is on a steady recovery – especially with the way she
responds to stimuli around her environment, and her level of energy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">If left
untreated, Loulli could have suffered in the long run – including irreversible effects
on brain development, weak health and immunity making her susceptible to
infections and diseases, poor performance in school, and less productivity as
an adult. Even worse, close to half of the deaths among children aged below
five globally are linked to malnutrition. Summing these up, economists across
the world estimate malnutrition’s economic impact to any society as a 3 per
cent loss in annual GDP. </span><span lang="EN-GB">In Laos, the cost of
undernutrition</span><span lang="EN-GB">
in terms of loss in economic productivity is $197 million annually – or around 2.4
per cent of its national GDP</span><span lang="EN-GB">.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Khamvilay
now vows to continue breastfeeding Loulli, although she says she may have to
stop when her daughter reaches 18 months, still below the recommended two-year
threshold, because she will have to return to her job as a secondary school
teacher. Somsanouk reminds her to continue breastfeeding, especially if Loulli
still has the appetite for it, to ensure her optimal health and growth.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">For
working mothers like Khamvilay, there are ways to go around this: she can
either take advantage of the Government policy of an hour-break to return home
and feed Loulli, or she can express milk in advance and keep this in the
freezer or cold storage facility at home – or even in her office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">* * *</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">For
mothers like Aht, however, who toil in the farms every day in a remote village,
this is a challenge. A mother of a three-year-old and seven-month twin boys,
she has to juggle working in the field all day, caring for her boys, and
breastfeeding her twins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">But
because she does not have any form of maternity leave, most of the time she has
to leave her boys at home with her mother-in-law, feeding the young twins with
rice porridge, tenderised meat, and vegetables while she works. Only when she’s
home can she breastfeed them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">“One of
the twins is frequently sick, and I don’t understand what medicine the health
workers give. So I just try to breastfeed them as much as I can,” she says. The
boy has slowly recovered, but she still worries he’s a little smaller than his
twin brother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Although
she goes to the village health centre for post-natal care, family planning
advice and regular tests, the distance and amount of time she spends on the
journey is time lost from work. Going is also not a decision she solely makes: as
practised in her ethnic community, her husband and mother-in-law hold influence
on her choice to go or whether she has the need to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As a
result, there is wide disparity in access to maternal and child health care. Only
half of the women in poor villages are able to visit health centres and seek
care and services for their and their children’s health, including
immunisation, advice on better infant feeding, natal care or contraceptives, when
those who live in urban centres and have a higher level of education do.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Prevailing
social norms also hinder poor mothers from seeking safe childbirth. Fueang,
head of the Lao Women’s Union in Naluang Noy village for nearly 30 years now,
says “many still give birth at home or don’t seek care at clinics because they
live far away, are too poor to travel or have no means of transport, or simply
choose to remain working in the fields.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">While s</span>he
has seen progress in the number of women in ethnic groups giving birth in
health centres and seeking advice on nutrition – “they feel the centres are
clean and have trained staff,” she says – common beliefs still prevail. One of
this is supplementing breastmilk too soon because they feel they are not
producing enough milk or their lactation is delayed. “They panic when their
babies cry so they feed them with rice, cereals, or infant formula. They stick
to this notion because they were taught or fed by their own mothers this way,”
she laments. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fueang raises this issue at local council meetings,
reminding mothers to breastfeed their newborns, seek maternal and child care
regularly, and be conscious of what they feed them. With an increasing number
of health centres in villages, she has become an active advocate in changing
many long-held notions, especially among ethnic groups.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">So
apart from the calls to Government to invest more in the facilities and health
centres especially in remote areas, and increase the number of health workers –
equally important is keeping mothers informed of the services that are
available to them, and changing the attitudes that prevent them from providing
proper nutrition to their newborns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Aht is lucky as she is one of only 25 per cent of rural women to give birth in a health facility assisted by a health worker and to get the services to somehow monitor her and her twins’ health. But there is a long way to go to close this divide. After all, optimal health and development is not only every child’s fundamental right, it is the moral responsibility of everyone in the community, including the local government, health workers, and families. </span></div>
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UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-61493646785231357672018-10-03T13:12:00.001+07:002018-10-08T15:19:18.599+07:00Photo stories: better health, better life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Mike Saycon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Xaiathon works all day – at home and in the field – and still finds time to breast feed her youngest son and play with her sons. Living an hour from her rice field, and even farther from the town centre, means a challenge to juggle her role at home and in following through her and her children’s health checks. Still, the boys are healthy, she says – and she and her husband are trying to have a baby girl.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vilayphone and her husband Sonephet
regularly take their five-month old son Konkham to the village health centre in
Dongsavanh for his dose of vaccines and monitoring his weight. They want to
keep him healthy and strong.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Lii, who was already married at age 15, comes to the health clinic in Dongsavanh Village to see her nurse, Keolammone, who makes sure she is healthy and ready to give birth in four months’ time. Lii works in the farm with her husband, but she has decided to stop working for now, to make sure she and her baby will remain healthy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">At only age 24, Chansamone works at the Phonxai Village health centre with the few other, servicing women and children from 10 villages and 21 sub-villages. She also does the works of being both a nurse and a midwife. The logo on her uniform says ‘Safe Mother, Safe Baby’.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Patients arrive at the
district hospital in Xepon, Savannakhet, for their health checks, on their farm
tractor – which is the only common mode of transport in rural areas. For many
families who do not own any or cannot afford to hire one, they simply forgo
their health checks, including immunisation doses for their children, and
instead work at their farms. </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">© UNICEF Laos/2018/Mike Saycon</span> </div>
UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-70519361254272946222018-10-02T08:26:00.001+07:002018-10-03T14:12:20.856+07:00The ripple-effect of child educated<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mike Saycon</span></div>
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Kamla’s older sister, who takes care of their younger brother while their parents work at the farm, walks him to school. Many of the children’s parents are farmers, and on non-school days they help out along with their friends and neighbours. </div>
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Kamla and his classmates return to their CBSR centre – from their 20-minute outdoor learning activities between their lessons. As many of their friends are from nearby houses, they have many children to play with during their games; especially those younger children who are not yet in the CBSR, or the older ones who are on their summer break from primary school.<br />
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Between their learning activities, children play various games as a group or with the other village children outside their classroom. Many of the outdoor games that they play as a class are designed to reinforce the lessons they had just learned, thus allowing for a more holistic learning experience.<br />
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Kham, village facilitator in Cho Tai village in Ta Oi, Saravan Province, believes in the importance of school readiness for children that he brings along his son Dao to join the classes as well. “I am always very happy when the children in my class are all in attendance, and it motivates me even more to make their lessons as fun and as interesting for them – so they want to keep on learning,” he says.<br />
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Kamla and his friends at the CBSR centre, on the more serious parts of their lessons – writing the alphabet and comparing notes. The CBSR is one of the interventions that UNICEF supports to increase the readiness of children to enter and stay on in primary school; in order for them to be competent and sufficiently skilled to finish through all levels of the formal education system and be employed later.</div>
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Literacy and numeracy modules in CBSRs are integrated with musical and games elements to keep the young pupils interested, giving the classrooms a fun vibe. The big groups of 30+ children can be challenging to manage for one or two village facilitators; hence by giving the children some form of entertainment while learning their lessons along with it, they are able to reinforce their lessons well.<br />
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Learning activities at the CBSR centre are designed to be as interactive as possible, to enhance the ability of the young learners in responding to stimuli such as colours, images and numbers; and allow them to engage actively with both their facilitators and peers. Pictured here is Kone who motivates his pupils to volunteer for a show-and-tell session with their peers.</div>
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UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-6363725701195478892018-09-26T16:47:00.001+07:002018-09-27T17:13:40.343+07:00UNICEF Executive Director: We must all hear the voices of 1.8 billion young people<span style="font-size: x-small;">Henrietta H. Fore</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore UNICEF stands with UNICEF supporters BTS, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">a global pop group, in advance of the launch of Generation Unlimited at Youth 2030.</span><br />
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Secretary-General, President Kagame, President Kim. And thank you Jayathma, for bringing to the halls of the United Nations something that is sorely needed: the voices of young people.<br />
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In my travels, I’ve heard their voices, too — their ideas, their enthusiasm, their vision for the future.<br />
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I’ve also heard their worries. That they will not find the education or skills they need. That they won’t find a job. They’re worried about violence at home…online…at school…in their neighbourhoods. And girls are worried about the discrimination and violence they face just because they’re girls.<br />
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We must all hear the voices of 1.8 billion young people. Which is why UNICEF is launching Generation Unlimited, or “Gen-U.” Our time. Our turn. Our unlimited future.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">On 24 September 2018 at the United Nations Headquarters, </span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore (left) speaks at the launch of Generation Unlimited at Youth 2030, a High-Level event at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.</span><br />
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We’re calling for cutting-edge solutions and new ideas to get every young person in school, training or age-appropriate employment by 2030.<br />
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We’re asking governments, businesses, foundations, academia, non-profits, communities and innovators to help us. And we’re co-creating these solutions with young people in the lead. Supporting them as — together — we design and scale-up solutions that address these needs.<br />
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Today, we’re announcing a first round of solutions that can be scaled-up.<br />
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From a program in Argentina that connects remote, rural students with teachers via digital technology. To a program in Bangladesh that is training tens of thousands of young people in trades like tailoring, motorcycle repair and mobile-phone servicing. To a job-shadowing program in South Africa connecting young women with mentors in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">On 24 September 2018 at the United Nations Headquarters, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore (right)speaks at launch of Generation Unlimited at Youth 2030, a High-Level event at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.</span></div>
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The next step is to gather public and private partners around these and other promising solutions to develop concrete plans to grow the funding base necessary to reach more young people, in more communities and countries.<br />
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But we need more ideas — big and small, local and global.<br />
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The possibilities are endless. And the need is urgent.<br />
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A massive generation is about to inherit our world. Please help us leave a legacy of hope and opportunities for them. And most importantly, with them. Thank you.<br />
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And now I’d like to ask my friend Jim Kim, President of the World Bank — and a true champion of children and young people — to say a few words.<br />
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UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-37046600111365170872018-09-21T11:49:00.002+07:002018-09-21T11:49:53.795+07:00Joint Statement: Development Partners Endorse MOH action for Appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Vientiane, 18 September 2018 </b>– “UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, and Save the Children strongly endorse the decision taken by the Ministry of Health, Department of Health and Hygiene Promotion, to not accept donations of infant formula, breastmilk substitutes, milk products marketed for infants and young children and feeding bottles and teats. Jointly, we commend the Ministry of Health for taking such strong action to protect, promote and support breastfeeding by mothers who due to the flood emergency in Sanamxai District, Attapeu Province have been displaced from their homes and villages”. </div>
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“The Department of Health and Hygiene Promotion (DHHP) made it very clear in their notification dated 05 September 2018, to donors, manufacturers, distributers, retailers, representatives of infant formula brands and individuals, that in accordance to the National Nutrition Strategy and Plan of Action (2016-2025), the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) Strategy (2016-2020) and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, donations and distribution of infant formula or any other breastmilk substitutes, feeding bottles and teats are not permitted”. </div>
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“The DHHP stated that the risk of contamination of infant formula during storage and preparation is extremely high in such poor hygiene conditions and thus places the lives of Lao infants and young children in danger of illness and death. To prevent the potential deaths of infants and young children, the DHHP calls for provincial and district authorities in Attapeu to decline any donations of infant formula, follow-on formula for young children, other milk products marketed to infants and young children and feeding bottles and teats. DHHP also calls for health teams, development partners and UN who are supporting the emergency response to provide counselling and support mothers to continue breastfeeding.” </div>
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“This notification from MOH, DHHP comes at an important time in the emergency response. Recent reports and photos captured during monitoring activities by UN staff on the ground, confirm that infant formula donations are being distributed to families living in temporary camps which not only violates the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, it is contradictory to the National Infant and Young Child Feeding Guidelines”. </div>
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“In such situation, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, and Save the Children, stands by the Ministry of Health decision to not accept donations of infant formula or other breastmilk substitutes and feeding bottles and teats. Together, we support the Government of Lao PDR to support appropriate infant and young child feeding and reiterate the caution about unnecessary use of breastmilk substitutes and other milk products”. </div>
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“UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, and Save the Children reiterate that no food or liquid other than breastmilk, not even water, is needed to meet an infant’s nutritional requirements during the first six months of life. After this period, infants should begin to receive a variety of foods, while breastfeeding continues up to two years of age or beyond. Children from the age of six months require nutrient-rich complementary foods in addition to breastfeeding. Provision of fortified foods or micronutrient supplements such as vitamin A or zinc in supervised programmes for young children represent a much more appropriate form of assistance than distributing milk products”.</div>
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“The valuable protection against infection that breastmilk confers is more important in environments without safe water supply and sanitation. Therefore, creation of a protective environment and provision of skilled support to breastfeeding women are essential interventions. This is especially critical where the use of milk products prior to the emergency was low, and mothers who would usually breastfeed might needlessly start giving artificial feeds”. </div>
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“Jointly, we commit to supporting the Government of Lao PDR to include capacity building for breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding as part of emergency preparedness in the future and as part of the disaster response already underway in Attapeu Province. We commit to supporting financial and human resources for proper and timely implementation of support for breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding in emergencies”. </div>
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###</div>
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For more information, please contact: </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
UNICEF: Maria Fernandez, Chief of Communication. Email: mfernandez@unicef.org; Telephone: +856 20 55519681. </div>
</div>
UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-86794024545902290512018-09-18T16:43:00.000+07:002018-09-20T11:02:35.700+07:00Lao flood emergency: delivering safe water and sanitation for children at risk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Simon Nazer</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xzL4kj6_4RVifCj21MuapJ_c6Cb1iB44F_rs1URzfGtwLv-FBYIJQWff6N8HYUTYhyrdboN2CG7tTRR6vOGvLWkzlMwG6dzTaAIWwoU6zbmTD0eOqJm1UgJ5t785IksPb0TvwwkFuEbS/s1600/UN0232115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xzL4kj6_4RVifCj21MuapJ_c6Cb1iB44F_rs1URzfGtwLv-FBYIJQWff6N8HYUTYhyrdboN2CG7tTRR6vOGvLWkzlMwG6dzTaAIWwoU6zbmTD0eOqJm1UgJ5t785IksPb0TvwwkFuEbS/s320/UN0232115.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Children used a newly installed water tap in Ban Bok camp,
Lao PDR © UNICEF/2018/Nazer<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">UNICEF,
with the support of USAID, is working to install water pumps and toilets in camps
for children and families displaced by the floods which swept through south Lao
PDR late July this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57jb3lnlGLxnT-RJtkBBUcUrUlUUMXT3lkdOBfjNodZ2oXb5eljvTz6ln0ysFMMgcBUpUr3cFUu8Ted4cjHUCZmocXgOk2zWPbPDpXsK2mp9p0vtN_HhshJ9JXk75DOjBBvgmrTtzNPJi/s1600/DSC08609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57jb3lnlGLxnT-RJtkBBUcUrUlUUMXT3lkdOBfjNodZ2oXb5eljvTz6ln0ysFMMgcBUpUr3cFUu8Ted4cjHUCZmocXgOk2zWPbPDpXsK2mp9p0vtN_HhshJ9JXk75DOjBBvgmrTtzNPJi/s320/DSC08609.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Khao Yai, 12, is currently staying in Ban Bok camp. His
family lost everything during the floods. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">© UNICEF/2018/Nazer<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Witnessing
the floods take their homes and in many cases livelihoods was an overwhelming
experience for children and families. “I just remember water coming into my
home and people shouting,” says Khao Yai, 12, who is staying in a camp in Bon
Bok. “I don’t really remember much after that. We just had to go right away, we
left everything.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AbCLWGS-laBWGaOmktj5gGVO8b3MCGWL_zvw-ftdcCV8pfSudLcWIls-8zf66lf23VzeIDSdOb2IIIEOguO3iiTjfHPMQxE1ftQ3G0sEW-EBmgEfVBXjVL4xAiiIRnmmUOE7wIjVKMzp/s1600/UN0232120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AbCLWGS-laBWGaOmktj5gGVO8b3MCGWL_zvw-ftdcCV8pfSudLcWIls-8zf66lf23VzeIDSdOb2IIIEOguO3iiTjfHPMQxE1ftQ3G0sEW-EBmgEfVBXjVL4xAiiIRnmmUOE7wIjVKMzp/s320/UN0232120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Widespread flood damage enroute to Ban Bok camp. ©
UNICEF/2018/Nazer<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Khao’s
experience is shared with over 4,000 other people who were displaced by the
floods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">During such
emergencies, access to clean water and sanitation facilities becomes extremely
important to ensure people stay healthy and clear of potentially
life-threatening diseases. This is why one of UNICEF’s priorities is to deliver
safe water and sanitation facilities to hard-to-reach camps like Ban Bok, with
USAID’s support.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4muDjv2KglpSUOXQ94FBI8_djz3QLE1Vope7t2kPFrjV8bbs1vQGKL7yHSljG822uX6N2XaLnovgA5D6He9aDW0WiSwJu5nfqKhZZQFnD3aa3bVRagjR-4giw5YKsKRRp846OZHffFB49/s1600/UN0232113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4muDjv2KglpSUOXQ94FBI8_djz3QLE1Vope7t2kPFrjV8bbs1vQGKL7yHSljG822uX6N2XaLnovgA5D6He9aDW0WiSwJu5nfqKhZZQFnD3aa3bVRagjR-4giw5YKsKRRp846OZHffFB49/s320/UN0232113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A newly installed water pump in Ban Bok camp. ©
UNICEF/2018/Nazer<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">UNICEF
has also provided 35 water points and constructed seven latrines in Ban Bok
camp alone. Soap, tarpaulins, buckets, bowls and jerry cans have been
distributed to all camps except those which are inaccessible. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJHi8-FH-T0LNwfttCXx_pqpIBboA7d2-lwfGhqOW5lWnmoZyRdDdLaeypfXsiTI08cwH5i_3V-59CELsgLVjooyVQQ1p-_oeRfPdDONa6hXYA1UisAs08mzXivrDTzhdQDEV41mnrRtw/s1600/DSC08211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJHi8-FH-T0LNwfttCXx_pqpIBboA7d2-lwfGhqOW5lWnmoZyRdDdLaeypfXsiTI08cwH5i_3V-59CELsgLVjooyVQQ1p-_oeRfPdDONa6hXYA1UisAs08mzXivrDTzhdQDEV41mnrRtw/s320/DSC08211.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Children participate in handwashing promotion activities. ©
UNICEF/2018/Nazer<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Handwashing with soap is among the most effective and
inexpensive ways to prevent diarrheaol diseases and pneumonia, which together
are responsible for the majority of child deaths globally and become more
prevalent during emergencies. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKtHm8EKfy3WeHLIcZ9rynEBLtlg6qEOFbINqDAdW30L_FS21F3PSqNN20u4Bl-0xC0uwLLjH7WvIVnCQdU-z-XlVFEY0tNRsFWvOuMAb1zgwKHpbkGzswq0WyHMnzhkvfkXpsv6aeADI/s1600/DSC08249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKtHm8EKfy3WeHLIcZ9rynEBLtlg6qEOFbINqDAdW30L_FS21F3PSqNN20u4Bl-0xC0uwLLjH7WvIVnCQdU-z-XlVFEY0tNRsFWvOuMAb1zgwKHpbkGzswq0WyHMnzhkvfkXpsv6aeADI/s320/DSC08249.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Facilitors use stories to teach children about the
importance of handwashing and good hygiene practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">© UNICEF/2018/Nazer<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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In order to deliver messages on handwashing, outreach teams supported
by UNICEF visit camps to teach children about the importance of handwashing and
how to wash their hands properly. Children like Khao take part in singing,
dancing and storytelling activities to ensure they learn the right habits that
will keep them safe for a lifetime.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidX6UP5pIYHaPFqpLO_d1lxxxCA2z5VAIKMGevfJYurF0zV98WykCypNMKEJvkeT0YuAm1W1ykV63FuQT3IDwNUtRFp4fh1IUZD57AkKNkS_IPRPx_oHBYy_ZJgOVjUgpuqoWhosCBk5aC/s1600/UN0232107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidX6UP5pIYHaPFqpLO_d1lxxxCA2z5VAIKMGevfJYurF0zV98WykCypNMKEJvkeT0YuAm1W1ykV63FuQT3IDwNUtRFp4fh1IUZD57AkKNkS_IPRPx_oHBYy_ZJgOVjUgpuqoWhosCBk5aC/s320/UN0232107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Children participate in the handwashing song. ©
UNICEF/2018/Nazer<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Our
teacher already taught us how to wash our hands at school and I use the new tap
a lot,” says Khao. “I’m also using the new toilet here, it’s much better than
going out in the open.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(L) Khao Yai washes his hands in a newly installed tap in his camp. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(R) A girl enters a newly built latrine in Ban Bok camp. © UNICEF/2018/Nazer</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">While it’ll
take time to rebuild after what happened, delivering safe water and sanitation
facilities to children like Khao, and their communities, is the first step to
ensuring they stay healthy and happy.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-85865300877201067252018-09-18T15:11:00.003+07:002018-09-20T11:02:11.685+07:00Bringing good health & nutrition to children affected by floods in Laos<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Simon Nazer</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLmsFiiFGZltdjvjuGqJLbP7eW32wRxvhISwGLSjZbBDrDcNROBEcorQAOVB9VOD-HW9gSYli2FNmewAwmubMBr07CFl4j-dFXBcgs3jupmWkZfycqEac0YKxi017gLFH5U65hrOtEZAb/s1600/UN0232111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLmsFiiFGZltdjvjuGqJLbP7eW32wRxvhISwGLSjZbBDrDcNROBEcorQAOVB9VOD-HW9gSYli2FNmewAwmubMBr07CFl4j-dFXBcgs3jupmWkZfycqEac0YKxi017gLFH5U65hrOtEZAb/s320/UN0232111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Carrots
diced, onions sliced and pumpkins quartered – mothers in Oudomxay camp, Lao PDR
are learning how to prepare nutritious food that’ll help them and their
children thrive. Floods in Lao PDR last month left 4,000 people homeless and in
temporary shelters. With crops and cattle destroyed, the food situation has
become critical and children are often among the first to suffer.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Today, mothers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in Oudomxay camp are being taught how to
prepare healthy food by two trainers from the Provincial Nutrition Team. “We’re
preparing food for children who were affected by the flood,” says the head of
that team, Ms. Vilaysan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRBneedNvBNqlXZgDVcngKVvhcWQwHh95MhDhEZkBlphzQF9PaUJsgODJG2mdsD_Xnf3lK8KfjXVegRfh5d0jFiQID9lZLhmN5-Q6BTSaQgRgbXxFl7CF9X3YEu7xjEfgGjtbb5VFXPfh/s1600/DSC08086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRBneedNvBNqlXZgDVcngKVvhcWQwHh95MhDhEZkBlphzQF9PaUJsgODJG2mdsD_Xnf3lK8KfjXVegRfh5d0jFiQID9lZLhmN5-Q6BTSaQgRgbXxFl7CF9X3YEu7xjEfgGjtbb5VFXPfh/s200/DSC08086.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“During the
flood, there was little access to food, particularly nutritious food like this.
We’re taking this opportunity to give them a healthy meal and teach the
families about healthy eating, using locally grown and available food.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For one of
the mothers, Southa, it’s a valuable learning experience. “This is the first
time I’ve had a chance to learn about healthy food,” she says. “Before I just
cooked traditional food and didn’t know about mixing different types of foods
to help children develop, it’s great to learn about this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Funding
from MMG and the European Union, have made it possible for UNICEF to support
the provincial team with Infant and Young Child Feeding training. Because of
this support, health workers and health volunteers have the knowledge and
skills needed to counsel mothers on how to prepare healthy meals for their
children by mixing different varieties of vegetables and proteins that will <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>help children develop. It’s particularly
important to maintain a healthy diet during emergencies when children can be
vulnerable to disease and illness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“We’ve done
an assessment and it’s clear that children have been affected by the flood and
need this support,” says Ms. Vilaysan. “There’s always a risk of their health
declining so it’s important we ensure they’re provided with healthy food, in a
sustainable way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The toll of the flood<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqRaMSeahnFqN-uuSFXqNteF7gfgAaZjTrh-UWnapi7taUKckRexWaxNChhwl5KUVLF3eyjhddmL0lq8SosS1HLTSKhYT10it3f3soSyKHzgmpZygfwqMqvic-9GeX3GoCkyrlvzfmMsp/s1600/UN0232089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqRaMSeahnFqN-uuSFXqNteF7gfgAaZjTrh-UWnapi7taUKckRexWaxNChhwl5KUVLF3eyjhddmL0lq8SosS1HLTSKhYT10it3f3soSyKHzgmpZygfwqMqvic-9GeX3GoCkyrlvzfmMsp/s320/UN0232089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In nearby
Sanamxai District Hospital, the toll of the flood on children is only too
clear. Since the flood, referrals have skyrocketed to the point where a
temporary shelter was built in the hospital yard – using a UNICEF tarpaulin –
to handle the additional patients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">One such
case is 2-year-old Vanly (name changed). She lays in a bed barely conscious
with a drip taped to her tiny arm with some cardboard for support. On each bed
around her, another child lays with a drip feeding into their arm, with their
worried parents watching over them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“She had diarrhoea
for ten days and the drugs weren’t helping,” said her mother as she sat by her
bed nursing her weak child. “My village was affected by the flood and we moved
to the camp. Since then, I noticed Vanly getting weaker and sicker. The doctor
sent us here when the medicine wasn’t working.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnysUbdlVHp3vCbpqdp0qj67flTLaPrAov_PqcAgD98oiZe_IyPaLLMLGqOqOFdO7o89mSa0TrHvWobgmfQerak7nbRImgApKXT7mS_DbtCXBnDdJSAwz8Lfqs24HuBTyTtzhXOVEinax/s1600/UN0232087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnysUbdlVHp3vCbpqdp0qj67flTLaPrAov_PqcAgD98oiZe_IyPaLLMLGqOqOFdO7o89mSa0TrHvWobgmfQerak7nbRImgApKXT7mS_DbtCXBnDdJSAwz8Lfqs24HuBTyTtzhXOVEinax/s320/UN0232087.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Sadly, this
can be a common sight during emergencies: with less healthy food and without
access to clean water and sanitation facilities, children increasingly fall
sick and find it difficult to get back to good health. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“We’ve been
here for a day and I don’t know how long we’ll be here for,” says Vanly’s mother.
“I just hope she’s feeling better soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For this
reason, UNICEF is prioritising nutrition screening of children in camps,
treatment of malnutrition cases and the promotion of breastfeeding.
Ready-to-use therapeutic food and micro-nutrient supplements have also be
delivered on the ground to help undernourished children get back to health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">UNICEF is
supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to disseminate key messages on the
prevention and management of diarrhoea, and on which danger signs to look for
when children are sick that warrant immediate health care. Job aids for health
workers have been developed and distributed to ensure lifesaving commodities
such as zinc tablets are given with Oral rehydration solution to all children
for treatment of diarrhoea, which can reduce the duration and severity of
diarrhoea as well as improve their immunity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Keeping disease and illness in check<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2hFz8PTLVutgG5WrjdvXsKpPEdIVnHsysniXgb9E0A3yL3y9ITuWY5mA6ptrtwdHH22lA5nIpecvKcw2X4oeP1x6KtmYpqz7ZEO7hBJ8gxInKfpd96aYXj2O_1xAWaGzcHcsAHryHydk/s1600/UN0232088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2hFz8PTLVutgG5WrjdvXsKpPEdIVnHsysniXgb9E0A3yL3y9ITuWY5mA6ptrtwdHH22lA5nIpecvKcw2X4oeP1x6KtmYpqz7ZEO7hBJ8gxInKfpd96aYXj2O_1xAWaGzcHcsAHryHydk/s320/UN0232088.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">MOH, with
the support of UNICEF and WHO is delivering Cholera vaccinations, along with other
routine vaccinations, to those in affected areas. The infectious disease can
quickly spread during flood emergencies. It can cause severe diarrhoea which
can lead to dehydration and even death if left untreated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In
addition, UNICEF staff are on the ground ensuring that children are receiving
the recommended vaccinations against other preventable diseases such as
measles, polio, diphtheria and tetanus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil44fUyzriYN4o5jOmIBgD3Q_Hr9Zgb-5NfB51Rk8i1lbCWQ1jDdtNrDVF3XAvJDyHLq3iryqCOuMCShWc5o9US8zp41Ni22jCsVTZ9ciUIYPaB_zvUMAOo__S2bYPMjIQVLPmBOIum_i9/s1600/UN0232103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil44fUyzriYN4o5jOmIBgD3Q_Hr9Zgb-5NfB51Rk8i1lbCWQ1jDdtNrDVF3XAvJDyHLq3iryqCOuMCShWc5o9US8zp41Ni22jCsVTZ9ciUIYPaB_zvUMAOo__S2bYPMjIQVLPmBOIum_i9/s200/UN0232103.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For mothers like Southa, seeing services and
support for her and her children is making a big difference while they come to
terms with the disaster. “It’s a difficult time,” she says. “Any help we get to
keep the children safe and healthy is good for us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">UNICEF
continues to work around the clock to deliver for children affected by the
floods in Lao PDR. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-40204860163800453682018-09-18T12:00:00.000+07:002018-09-20T11:01:55.873+07:00Emergency in Laos: staying safe with clean water and sanitation<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Simon Nazer</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57jb3lnlGLxnT-RJtkBBUcUrUlUUMXT3lkdOBfjNodZ2oXb5eljvTz6ln0ysFMMgcBUpUr3cFUu8Ted4cjHUCZmocXgOk2zWPbPDpXsK2mp9p0vtN_HhshJ9JXk75DOjBBvgmrTtzNPJi/s1600/DSC08609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57jb3lnlGLxnT-RJtkBBUcUrUlUUMXT3lkdOBfjNodZ2oXb5eljvTz6ln0ysFMMgcBUpUr3cFUu8Ted4cjHUCZmocXgOk2zWPbPDpXsK2mp9p0vtN_HhshJ9JXk75DOjBBvgmrTtzNPJi/s320/DSC08609.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Many
children like 12-year-old Khao Yai are struggling to come to terms with what
happened late July when a dam breached in southern Lao PDR, displacing
thousands of people. “I just remember water coming into my home and people
shouting,” he says. “I don’t really remember much after that.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Khao and
his family are now staying in a temporary shelter in the remote camp of Ban
Bok. The route to the village is treacherous: roads are knee-high in flood
water and mud while the scattered remains of people’s household items –
wardrobes, sacks of rice, televisions – lie strewn outside homes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“We just
had to go right away, we left everything,” recounts Khao. His experience is
shared with over 4,000 other people who were displaced by the floods. During
such emergencies, access to clean water and sanitation facilities becomes
extremely important to ensure people stay healthy and clear of potentially
life-threatening diseases.</span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaAUvlGhOwPJF7HBEN5kPY_1zcdPz27haNC8qBeXCr1vdgB9gLuju-_cN6O9iT4UHEszweXTZr19oY9UiVZ69mPqbz051RE5i_LqCmTiPZSRaaHoUUx5nzlzOjp3uxKbvTLOCG8yvZGKY/s1600/UN0232116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaAUvlGhOwPJF7HBEN5kPY_1zcdPz27haNC8qBeXCr1vdgB9gLuju-_cN6O9iT4UHEszweXTZr19oY9UiVZ69mPqbz051RE5i_LqCmTiPZSRaaHoUUx5nzlzOjp3uxKbvTLOCG8yvZGKY/s200/UN0232116.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s why UNICEF, with the support of USAID,
is working to install water points (drilling boreholes with hand motorized
pump) and toilets in camps like Ban Bok. In addition to this, USAID is
supporting UNICEF to deliver psychosocial support to children affected by the
floods.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“I’m just
staying in a tent nearby,” says Khao, never short of a smile, while standing
next to a newly installed water pump. “I’m spending time with friends and
studying Lao language. I like football and we play a lot, although it’s very
wet so it’s not easy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Together with the National and Provincial Centres in Saravane and Attapeu for Environmental Health and Water Supply, UNICEF has provided 35 water points (boreholes with hand and electric pumps and stand pipes) and constructed 13 latrines (7 in Ban Bok and 6 in Pingdong). Soap, tarpaulins, buckets, bowls and jerry cans have been distributed to all camps except those two inaccessible and 30 solar lamps from the Government of Australia will be soon installed in the camps, near the toilets. Hygiene promotion activities are also being carried out.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">At times of
crisis, children like Khao are more susceptible to illness and death from
diseases that are often caused by lack of sanitation, inadequate safe water and
poor hygiene. Without access to basic water and sanitation services, and
without the practice of good hygiene, the danger of diarrhoea, cholera and
other disease outbreaks is high.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The support
from UNICEF and USAID is ensuring access of affected populations to safe
drinking water through the distribution of 200,000 water purification tablets
to treat water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvvjiEVBfzDeG7jyGBqnx_mRtrsjbCZDzqF3jEGYMvC1SN4H2v7Rg_e8Q4eEW_cYU2ZGyPbVoRav_mLQ_Rqj1qhTAyJO9ThDgx6qNIAI42gY8ULj2q7McdmwbNn_CxNcLf-RKHZODqRbx/s1600/UN0232115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvvjiEVBfzDeG7jyGBqnx_mRtrsjbCZDzqF3jEGYMvC1SN4H2v7Rg_e8Q4eEW_cYU2ZGyPbVoRav_mLQ_Rqj1qhTAyJO9ThDgx6qNIAI42gY8ULj2q7McdmwbNn_CxNcLf-RKHZODqRbx/s320/UN0232115.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In addition
to installing taps and toilets, UNICEF also helps affected communities to teach
children and families the importance of handwashing to help stay clear of
disease and illness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Our
teacher already taught us how to wash our hands at school and I use the new tap
a lot,” says Khao. “I’m also using the new toilet here, it’s much better than
going out in the open.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">While it’ll
take time to rebuild after what happened, delivering safe water and sanitation
facilities to children like Khao, and their communities, is the first step to
ensuring they stay healthy and happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-65195021212269589772018-09-14T14:30:00.001+07:002018-09-20T11:00:52.686+07:00Smiling again after the flood in Laos <span style="font-size: x-small;">By Simon Nazer</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHPD_0dsw9Yfq8G0WUgltvMI-Z2DlGGY0TmnctaPV-CIeszCSc7iZU8mFb-mC-4vpfBsYdzbcXkFJbnIIza0U_KL6nUoB2IRU0oW51FtBRFOWWLMjSJ1dXTz6T4M-ahY4r6T3GRiDHdAx/s1600/UN0231457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHPD_0dsw9Yfq8G0WUgltvMI-Z2DlGGY0TmnctaPV-CIeszCSc7iZU8mFb-mC-4vpfBsYdzbcXkFJbnIIza0U_KL6nUoB2IRU0oW51FtBRFOWWLMjSJ1dXTz6T4M-ahY4r6T3GRiDHdAx/s320/UN0231457.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since a huge flood in the south of Lao PDR left thousands homeless, child friendly spaces have been set-up in remote camps to give children a safe area to learn and play with trained volunteer teachers.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">UNICEF and partners such as Save the Children, Plan International and Child Fund led by the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, with the support of the Australian Government and USAID, are supporting the Government to create a happy space to help children heal from the trauma of the disaster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We recently visited some spaces and the smiles tell their own story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMlIr5-li-UoTDi47SKY_eMD7CbFIdsgXQ4Zm2EvwYoVqNrOwywTrqQhyphenhyphenDXQiuV9-mk9YIwFntyKcCs7OEsEDDDqreR2UVC-p7SLdEaeElco355u0HRW3UxiQ4F96LMLgyE6oMlH7zaOw/s1600/UN0231459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMlIr5-li-UoTDi47SKY_eMD7CbFIdsgXQ4Zm2EvwYoVqNrOwywTrqQhyphenhyphenDXQiuV9-mk9YIwFntyKcCs7OEsEDDDqreR2UVC-p7SLdEaeElco355u0HRW3UxiQ4F96LMLgyE6oMlH7zaOw/s320/UN0231459.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Nado, 2,
loved running around and using the slide. “I want to come back tomorrow,” he
said before running off to join the queue for the slide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K8fOwn0nF8ocW_eQGa1knlUCHnM6f6o-an9BpoUJ6kEZVgwBCvonnYAJ69sfrL7BklMC4XzLY1kH8x-qgoiT3Omu8P1HMwVPvl9lAJ2i9m0vB-lvARNTIMbMr0gXo0egAFgoe43KHTBq/s1600/UN0232092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K8fOwn0nF8ocW_eQGa1knlUCHnM6f6o-an9BpoUJ6kEZVgwBCvonnYAJ69sfrL7BklMC4XzLY1kH8x-qgoiT3Omu8P1HMwVPvl9lAJ2i9m0vB-lvARNTIMbMr0gXo0egAFgoe43KHTBq/s200/UN0232092.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHFXW_aUmjfT5A-PtysRw-f6n6ogQEvppd7An6mUxsC1g7obtU-9Mvq888cOkrIo415AefqY4_KSEi9tMP0xtoS1pH4lbjqfZ6TY-loIrPWiubPJnYK4FFoLCzmhucOBoY_Syk72H6cWV/s1600/UN0232090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHFXW_aUmjfT5A-PtysRw-f6n6ogQEvppd7An6mUxsC1g7obtU-9Mvq888cOkrIo415AefqY4_KSEi9tMP0xtoS1pH4lbjqfZ6TY-loIrPWiubPJnYK4FFoLCzmhucOBoY_Syk72H6cWV/s200/UN0232090.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">2-year old
Donut, right, couldn’t get enough of the activities. “I like it lots,” she
said. “I hope I can come again every day!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir23DlsKAPDjHH2xXcqUG4_nCKCy-PtyaV3C2nXXgfoCQ9IEV_0SnZNpEp9NfKNVotdH2-_tHz_IbF0NIdoCWaSyQlofkaqLEFm8PfxuE6OlfnyZgvQ_Ern6B9R10cAAP-TCx0KhoeaGo8/s1600/DSC07663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir23DlsKAPDjHH2xXcqUG4_nCKCy-PtyaV3C2nXXgfoCQ9IEV_0SnZNpEp9NfKNVotdH2-_tHz_IbF0NIdoCWaSyQlofkaqLEFm8PfxuE6OlfnyZgvQ_Ern6B9R10cAAP-TCx0KhoeaGo8/s320/DSC07663.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">One mother
who was watching her child play really valued the child friendly space. “My
daughter likes it here very much,” she says. “I think this is really great for
the kids.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqKTIe_KIHojSAkvew4c7PH-PQK7fiRLyG-Wtst0xKAz-LOx7bT6V8tKbTXEu5m45I-EFWc8aBo-Wf-6OXLx0F3NIa01wAMCWM-0KYCNAg_78v5I2sbP5gm_jjMOOOTjJG48chl9N6mAE/s1600/DSC07490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqKTIe_KIHojSAkvew4c7PH-PQK7fiRLyG-Wtst0xKAz-LOx7bT6V8tKbTXEu5m45I-EFWc8aBo-Wf-6OXLx0F3NIa01wAMCWM-0KYCNAg_78v5I2sbP5gm_jjMOOOTjJG48chl9N6mAE/s320/DSC07490.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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“I think it’s good to bring the children together,” continued the mother of 4-year-old Vanmai. “It’s much more active here than just sitting in our tent, alone with her few toys. I can see she’s more active and happy here.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJo7nDC6d-kZwx_BxwmGmulM_7CfAjAYFe9aGL-d4E07nHfO0RTTsGSlgm0YoCdvxqw8mW84-Z-aNQiip5FGMXXUNmSOvRbHW5l3mMpsbC-EOERDIO6YfG0I2IfCy1Z6oOMY3T05VFLHDG/s1600/CFS+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1378" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJo7nDC6d-kZwx_BxwmGmulM_7CfAjAYFe9aGL-d4E07nHfO0RTTsGSlgm0YoCdvxqw8mW84-Z-aNQiip5FGMXXUNmSOvRbHW5l3mMpsbC-EOERDIO6YfG0I2IfCy1Z6oOMY3T05VFLHDG/s320/CFS+tent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The child
friendly spaces allow children to heal after the trauma of the floods where
thousands of people lost their homes and livelihood to huge floods. The tent is
equipped with UNICEF’s School in a Box and volunteer teachers have be trained
to give children and mothers support to move on from the trauma. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As well as
playing, children also learn while their schools are closed. This helps keep
their learning on track before they can go back to school and restart their
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtN_whCzj9DBny-CGAxWhkx4a30oUXfoLNYvTmVHBT6kri47NV6RkRilnpCdNjDmb_qU3nqjHIK4HqYOZF8olq-PxNsOqE8Yw3IGQsP5Fr6X_rMSbAClqNqeVsnGNW86lEZQQuFP7nH7-/s1600/UN0232102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtN_whCzj9DBny-CGAxWhkx4a30oUXfoLNYvTmVHBT6kri47NV6RkRilnpCdNjDmb_qU3nqjHIK4HqYOZF8olq-PxNsOqE8Yw3IGQsP5Fr6X_rMSbAClqNqeVsnGNW86lEZQQuFP7nH7-/s320/UN0232102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">UNICEF is continuing
its work for the many children affected by the floods to help them and their
families get their lives back on track. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-5227397412828623112018-09-14T14:00:00.003+07:002018-09-20T11:01:36.468+07:00Flood emergency in Laos: A haven for happiness in Laos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Simon Nazer</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17X5VGjA9hYvam9oP7ll4RAfryipbFJaSIB5dIfH-4gfPH-p3hujAZ54ICTrn28O6gJsJzOpQFEUA96O-C0GGLReX1o9oPtxlCf5wn5BaxgbmlW9JzVu0f3kKBjMXcmHTL7PdhUBPsst0/s1600/UN0232095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17X5VGjA9hYvam9oP7ll4RAfryipbFJaSIB5dIfH-4gfPH-p3hujAZ54ICTrn28O6gJsJzOpQFEUA96O-C0GGLReX1o9oPtxlCf5wn5BaxgbmlW9JzVu0f3kKBjMXcmHTL7PdhUBPsst0/s320/UN0232095.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For many children like 6-year-old Laura, the last month has been a distressing time. Huge floods in Southern Lao PDR triggered by a damn breaking have taken away her home and her parents’ livelihood, and her aunt remains missing. But today she is smiling again thanks to a new child friendly space in her camp that is bringing fun, games and learning to her each and every day.<br />
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“She’s really happy there, she never wants to leave,” says Laura’s mother while watching on. “As soon as she wakes up in the morning she asks to go right away.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbEyQwSOGgATH2gCly6GGYv3GEi9nUkKPgHkqgNgEgzD_BdMQLe4mx5T7dlVfKXLxl1Mqn77T_rGW3fYvuzVrHhO5YMtJucwtwoeJvuPYyqaMSOr-AgMyNfpxBQCcK84FHMr_m8NilPG0/s1600/UN0232099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbEyQwSOGgATH2gCly6GGYv3GEi9nUkKPgHkqgNgEgzD_BdMQLe4mx5T7dlVfKXLxl1Mqn77T_rGW3fYvuzVrHhO5YMtJucwtwoeJvuPYyqaMSOr-AgMyNfpxBQCcK84FHMr_m8NilPG0/s320/UN0232099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The flood has affected over 13,000 people and left around a third of those in camps like Laura’s in remote Ban Bok. UNICEF and partners are working to deliver clean water, sanitation facilities, and non-food items such as hygiene kits, tarpaulins and medicines, among other things, to these hard-to-reach camps to help children and families stay safe and healthy. Nutrition screening of children in camps, treatment of malnutrition cases and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding are some of the priorities for UNICEF in the aftermath of the flash floods. </div>
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UNICEF, with support from the Australian Government and USAID, UNICEF is working to provide a safe space for children to learn and play before they can go back to their schools. So far six child friendly spaces have been setup, supporting about 1,000 children. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCSPkFGDrkhRtEUdB-bwjpc1zlmdwedI4yuxCsyuU04fLq9jAta9xA9lIyw33M9AK5UMALbzuxxWsJKeankNFCjSs1erBxo2WaFT9Q77J1zgoSldKApUWlGtcIGYmaxP9MMRFFKWaJCLb/s1600/UN0232100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCSPkFGDrkhRtEUdB-bwjpc1zlmdwedI4yuxCsyuU04fLq9jAta9xA9lIyw33M9AK5UMALbzuxxWsJKeankNFCjSs1erBxo2WaFT9Q77J1zgoSldKApUWlGtcIGYmaxP9MMRFFKWaJCLb/s320/UN0232100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">For Laura, coming
here is the highlight of her day. “I really, really like it,” she says while
finishing a reading activity. “My favourite thing to do here is the mango
game!”</span></div>
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Volunteer teachers like 21-year-old Malaithone spend around four hours a day with Laura and her friends, teaching them games and songs as well as taking them through counting and reading activities. </div>
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“This is really good for children and it’s important to give them a safe space after all the problems,” she says. “I’m actually very happy to be here to help – I just graduated from teacher training and I’ll be here for as long as I’m needed.” </div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">“It was a
distressing time for them,” continues Malaithone while preparing for another
activity. “This helps take their minds off of what happened – it’s making them
smile again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b>A safe space for every child affected by disaster</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9R-xgWyF5nNesrHQWQQfmQHdDalI9FY44X9nIHEiq2xR0ydUJyBjXTzSEJzEK1SbiB4SJ9-UhMLNqP-HWNLV4CBeYuBTJulsdWs2P9-z4AYPIXp5xOK4w2jvapksqR8vCZ9UC5RliSgj/s1600/UN0232096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9R-xgWyF5nNesrHQWQQfmQHdDalI9FY44X9nIHEiq2xR0ydUJyBjXTzSEJzEK1SbiB4SJ9-UhMLNqP-HWNLV4CBeYuBTJulsdWs2P9-z4AYPIXp5xOK4w2jvapksqR8vCZ9UC5RliSgj/s200/UN0232096.jpg" width="133" /></a><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
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Laura is
shy at first but Malaithone leads her and the others through a series of
activities to help them relax and open up. Sure enough, after a few minutes of
introductions Laura is dancing and playing with all the other children. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">“It’s
difficult to stay in this camp, she misses her home,” explains Laura’s mother.
“We don’t know how long we’ll be here and what the future holds. It’s hard here
but I’m so thankful for this safe space for her to play and to help keep all
the children happy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The tents
are equipped with UNICEF’s School in a Box to help teachers bring the best out
of children. “There are lots of materials in the box like books, blocks ad
balls for games, colouring kits,” says Malaithone. “It’s very useful for us
teachers and the children.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Disasters
such as these can have huge, long-term impacts on children’s mental well-being.
This is why, with support from partners -
Save the Children, Plan International and Child Fund, under the
leadership of the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Labour
and Social Welfare, the volunteers are also trained to provide psychosocial
support to the children and women affected by the flood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This space
will give Laura and the many affected children like her a better chance to move
on from the disaster and to start learning, and smiling, again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-13392280798242791702018-08-28T10:12:00.001+07:002018-09-04T08:56:25.499+07:00Laos 1,000 Days Program: Stories of Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamvong and her son Sambom (1 year, 2 months) Vilabouly District</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">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 </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">1,000 Days </i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">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.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Syda (right) – Vice Chief of Village (Muangluang), Vilabouly District</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 14.66px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Phone, with Bounmy (9 months)</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 14.66px;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 14.66px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></span><br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I will use Super
Kid to make my baby healthy and strong” she says.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
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UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-86276410870325656522018-08-25T15:56:00.000+07:002018-09-03T14:29:28.301+07:00Press release: Lao PDR’s First Ever Cholera Vaccination Campaign Launched in Flood-hit Sanamxay District <br />
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB">Vientiane Capital, 25 August 2018</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-align: justify;"> – The Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF and the World
Health Organization has launched the first ever cholera vaccination campaign in
Lao PDR targeting flood-affected communities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The OCV campaign has begun at the main camp at Sanamxay District. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: Simon Nazer (UNICEF)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">During the first
phase of the cholera vaccination campaign from 23 to 30 August, about 5,000
doses will be administered to flood-affected communities in Sanamxai district. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An additional 19,700 doses will be used in a
second round. In total, 12,350 people will receive the two doses of the vaccine
administered in two phases of this campaign until September 2018. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">“Cholera is a
devastating disease which can spreads quickly and kills fast. Increased risks
can be seen after severe flooding. The Ministry of Health has been monitoring
15 communicable diseases to protect against potential outbreaks, and this
vaccination campaign along with the efforts made to improve water, sanitation
and hygiene (WASH) will protect the people living in the shelters,” stated Assoc.
Prof. Dr Bounkong Syhavong, Health Minister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cholera is a serious bacterial disease that usually causes acute severe
diarrhoea and dehydration. It is caused by ingestion of food or water
contaminated with faecal material that contains the bacterium Vibrio Cholera.
It affects both children and adults and can kill within hours. The short
incubation period of two hours to five days, enhances the potentially explosive
pattern of outbreaks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“</span><span lang="EN-GB">Considering the water and sanitation conditions
in the overcrowded shelters and the increased risk of disease outbreaks during
this rainy season, we need to support the Ministry of Health to take all
possible measures to prevent cholera and other water and vector borne diseases.
There is not currently a cholera outbreak in the country, but preventive
measures are to be taken given the circumstances,” said Dr Juliet Fleischl, WHO
Representative to Lao PDR. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cholera occurs mainly in areas where there is open defecation, poor
sanitation and personal hygiene, and a lack of clean drinking water. In some
areas where latrines and toilet areas are in close proximity, it can
contaminate surface water, shallow dug wells and boreholes including piped
water; when a person’s hands contaminated with faecal material touches food,
fruits or in contact with stored water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">“UNICEF is
working with partners to provide training and support for activities that
engage and educate communities about communicable diseases including cholera,
putting emphasis on hygiene promotion. Trained staff have been deployed in the
affected area to spread the word through social mobilisation in the camps. In
addition, we are scaling up water, sanitation and hygiene efforts to ensure
affected populations have access to clean water and sanitation facilities,”
explained Myo Zin Nyunt, UNICEF Acting Representative to Lao PDR. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For the cholera vaccination campaign, seven mobile teams, comprising of
3-4 members, and other two teams based in the primary camp in Sanamxay district
are carrying out the vaccination activities covering emergency shelters and
host communities through door-to-door service. Teams are also organising
awareness sessions and spreading messages on hygiene, food preparation,
management of acute diarrhea and oral rehydration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">WHO recommends
that vaccination against cholera be considered in emergencies like severe
flooding where there are increased threats of outbreaks, when combined with
standard prevention and control measures for the disease. These measures
include readiness to provide adequate testing and treatment, steps to ensure
access to safe water and sanitation, and community mobilization to engage the
public in preventing infection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Data have shown oral cholera vaccines to be safe and effective in
humanitarian crises with high risk of cholera. The vaccines should always
be used in conjunction with other cholera prevention and control strategies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">### ###<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-themecolor: text1;">About UNICEF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places,
to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and
territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for
everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Lao PDR,
visit</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.unicef.org/laos"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.unicef.org/laos</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Follow
us on </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uniceflaos/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Facebook</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">, </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://twitter.com/UNICEFLaos"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">Twitter</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">, </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/UNICEFLaoPDR"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">YouTube</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"> and at </span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK ";"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">www.unicef.org<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK ";"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">About WHO <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are the directing and coordinating
authority on international health within the United Nations’ system. We do this
by: providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in
partnerships where joint action is needed; shaping the research agenda and
stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable
knowledge; setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their
implementation; articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options;
providing technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable
institutional capacity; and monitoring the health situation and assessing
health trends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://www.wpro.who.int/laos/en/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.wpro.who.int/laos/en/</span></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For more information, please contact:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span lang="PT" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: text1;">Maria Fernandez, UNICEF Lao PDR, (+856) 2055519681, </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="mailto:mfernandez@unicef.org"><span lang="PT" style="mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">mfernandez@unicef.org</span></a></span><span lang="PT" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: text1;">Irene Tan, WHO Lao PDR,
856-2078113933 </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="mailto:tanir@who.int"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">tanir@who.int</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-91604549604567555822018-07-31T14:28:00.000+07:002018-09-03T14:30:19.663+07:00Press Release: USAID provides support to UNICEF’s Emergency Response to Floods in Laos<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbfKA8yL0MsDamLc-9muE1U3zGu_PBI8Ix9kzMqd33p2g1z0VbKgQM5p2JrhG4ALSUklKTKfx5wj9u__Mq6ZKPSLBqpEUPG2nyp381QHuADat1Yu2SDUguMPPu9zlOqfkrwkGiSVwOMGC/s1600/ATPCampThadeua-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbfKA8yL0MsDamLc-9muE1U3zGu_PBI8Ix9kzMqd33p2g1z0VbKgQM5p2JrhG4ALSUklKTKfx5wj9u__Mq6ZKPSLBqpEUPG2nyp381QHuADat1Yu2SDUguMPPu9zlOqfkrwkGiSVwOMGC/s320/ATPCampThadeua-07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Vientiane, Lao PDR, 31 July
2018</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> – The U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) has granted to UNICEF the sum of $100,000 to
provide support for the emergency response to the floods in Lao PDR with a
focus on access to clean drinking water for people in the camps and child
protection. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">There are more than 7,300 people displaced by the floods who have been
registered in displacement camp shelters. This grant will provide emergency relief
support in Attapeu and nearby affected areas of Sothern Laos through the
provision of hygiene and sanitation supplies and facilities, and awareness
raising to prevent outbreak of water borne diseases. It will allow for a quick
dispatch of additional water purification solutions and the rehabilitation of
contaminated water sources in communities, including health centers and
schools. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">In addition, the USAID contribution will help identify unaccompanied
and separated children and facilitate psychosocial support for children, while
strengthening coordination with relevant authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“We welcome this
U.S. contribution which will help UNICEF and the Government of Lao PDR to
better respond to the needs of those affected by the floods. As an initial
response, UNICEF has made available pre-positioned water and sanitation
supplies for 1,500 households including tarpaulins, soap and jerry cans which
have arrived in Attapeu province. We have now finalized the rapid assessment
and are working with the Government and development partners on a medium and
long term response to meet the needs of children and their families affected by
the floods,” said Octavian Bivol, UNICEF Representative in Lao PDR. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">“We recognize
that there will be longer term impacts to this tragedy. When the water recedes,
the American people will continue to stand with the people of the Lao PDR,” said
U.S. Ambassador Rena Bitter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Current priority
needs for children include access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene;
immunization and vitamin A supplementation; management of acute malnutrition
cases and provision of psychosocial support and child friendly spaces. UNICEF
is working in coordination with the Government of Lao PDR, development partners
and other UN agencies to ensure that those in need receive support. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">About UNICEF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">UNICEF
works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most
disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every
child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information
about UNICEF and its work for children in Lao PDR, visit</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
</span></span><a href="http://www.unicef.org/laos"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">http://www.unicef.org/laos</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Follow
us on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uniceflaos/"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/UNICEFLaos"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/UNICEFLaoPDR"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">YouTube</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> and at </span><a href="https://www.unicef.org/laos/"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">www.unicef.org</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">About USAID<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) is the principal U.S. Government agency extending assistance to
countries worldwide recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty and
engaging in democratic reforms. For more information about USAID, visit: </span><a href="https://www.usaid.gov/"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">https://www.usaid.gov/</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/USAIDAsia"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Facebook</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/USAIDAsia"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Twitter</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> and </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usaidasia/albums/72157690652927641"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Flickr</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">For
more information, please contact:</span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Maria Fernandez, UNICEF Lao PDR, (+856) 2055519681, </span><a href="mailto:mfernandez@unicef.org"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">mfernandez@unicef.org</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tabongphet Phouthavong, UNCEF Lao
PDR, (+856) 2096888890, </span><a href="mailto:tphouthavong@unicef.org"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">tphouthavong@unicef.org</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Richard Nyberg, USAID
Regional Development Mission for Asia, </span></span><a href="mailto:rnyberg@usaid.gov"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">rnyberg@usaid.gov</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Wiraporn Srisuwanwattana, USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia,
</span><a href="mailto:wsrisuwanwattana@usaid.gov"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">wsrisuwanwattana@usaid.gov</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-51914055362379078582018-07-25T17:11:00.001+07:002018-07-25T17:11:13.995+07:00Press Release: Children affected by floods in Laos need urgent support<br />
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES-TRAD;">UNICEF
and partners working to save lives and meet urgent needs of most vulnerable
children</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: ES-TRAD;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: ES-TRAD;">Vientiane, Lao PDR, 25 July 2018</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: ES-TRAD;"> – UNICEF is working with the Government of
Lao PDR and development partners to provide essential support and services to around
6,331 people, including children, affected by the floods in Attapeu province
(Southern Laos). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: ES-TRAD;">“We are deeply saddened by the news in Attapeu. It
is imperative that we meet urgent humanitarian needs and ensure the safety of
children and families who have been displaced by the floods,” said Octavian
Bivol, UNICEF Representative in Lao PDR. “Based on a primary assessment
conducted by the Government, there are more than 1,300 families that urgently
need tents for emergency shelter and other non-food Items such as family kits
and personal hygiene kits.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: ES-TRAD;">Under the leadership of the
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the National Disaster Prevention and
Control Committee, and in coordination with other UN agencies, UNICEF is releasing
immediate support for about 1,500 households through the provision of water,
sanitation and hygiene supplies which will reach the affected communities
within the next 24-48 hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-fareast-language: ES-TRAD;">UNICEF is working closely
with local authorities and other partners to determine the most urgent needs and
is deploying a team to support immediate relief efforts over the next few hours
and the coming days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-themecolor: text1;">###<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-themecolor: text1;">About UNICEF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">UNICEF
works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most
disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every
child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information
about UNICEF and its work for children in Lao PDR, visit</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
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For more information, please contact:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-themecolor: text1;">Maria Fernandez, UNICEF Lao PDR, (+856) 2055519681, </span><a href="mailto:mfernandez@unicef.org"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">mfernandez@unicef.org</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Phouthavong, UNCEF Lao PDR, (+856) 2096888890, </span><a href="mailto:tphouthavong@unicef.org"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">tphouthavong@unicef.org</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Shima Islam, Regional Office of UNICEF in East Asia and
Pacific, (+66)23569407, </span><a href="mailto:ssislam@unicef.org"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">ssislam@unicef.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Christopher
Tidey, UNICEF New York, +19173403017, </span></span><a href="mailto:ctidey@unicef.org"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">ctidey@unicef.org</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">
</span></span><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-2181211860202272792018-07-23T16:14:00.000+07:002018-07-23T16:14:05.150+07:00Every child deserves a second chance<br />
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“I am grateful for all your help. Without you, I don’t know
what would happen to me, and I may not be home today,” Mr. Phou<sup>1</sup>,
Nonesoung deputy village chief, quoted Xay<sup>2</sup> who said this to him in
tears.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Xay, the 14-year old boy from Houay village of Kaysone
Phomviharn district in Savannakhet, came into contact with the law in October
2017 when he and his group of friends got into a fight with another boy, who
sustained severe injuries. Xay and his friends were arrested. Upon learning Xay
was 14 while his friends were 18, the village leaders – including Mr. Phou,
wrote to the police. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“We explained to them that since Xay is below the minimum
age of criminal liability [set at 15 in Laos PDR], he should not be in
detention along with his adult friends,” Mr. Phou recalled. Back then, Mr. Phou
had just received training in community-based diversion programmes from the
Ministry of Justice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Diversion re-integrates young offenders into their families
and back into society, as an alternative to the formal justice procedure. This
intervention is to ensure they are not exposed to further violence in adult
prisons or traumatised, which adversely affects their overall development as
children. As an age-appropriate approach, diversion allows for proper
processing of the young offender’s case in a child-sensitive setting that
ultimately re-integrates them back into society.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The community-based diversion training that Mr. Phou
received is designed for community leaders and members to learn the rights of
children in contact with the law as victims, witnesses and offenders, in the
legal framework of Lao PDR. With support from UNICEF and the Australian
Government, two villages in Vientiane and Savannakhet province were selected to
pilot the project to assist children in conflict with the law.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As village deputy chief for more than four years now, Mr.
Phou has seen not only the struggles but also the transformation of children
from being offenders into responsible young adolescents after undergoing
diversion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Phou recalled how his training had impacted the
community through Xay’s story. “We were happy the police listened to us and
eventually released all five boys from detention. The conflict was turned over
for the community to resolve through a mediation process. We followed our
training on case management and invited both parties and their parents. All
parties agreed to settle and were happy with the solution,” he said. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Phou is very proud that he could help Xay and give him a
chance to stay with his family instead of being in prison at such a young age.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I’m glad our village was selected for this project,” adding
they learned a lot from the training and gained more knowledge on laws and
regulations, and on how cases can be handled at their level. “If we did not
have the training, we would not have been able to negotiate Xay’s case with the
police. He could have been in prison now, along with hardened criminals,” he
said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After the mediation activities, the re-education sessions
and values formation as part of the diversion programme, Xay now has a greater
appreciation of the process he went through; and is back at home, ready to pick
up his life again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As for Mr. Phou, he said he would continue using the
knowledge and skills he has gained from the training to help even more children
in his community.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-80113802828673081342018-07-10T09:47:00.001+07:002018-07-10T09:49:19.568+07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Building
the capacity of health workers is helping to promote positive behaviours and
reduce malnutrition in Laos</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Under the Partnership for Improved Nutrition, the
Government, the EU and UNICEF are working together to support the adoption of
recommended maternal, infant and young child health, nutrition and hygiene
practices at community level and especially in hard-to-reach areas</span></i><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Doctor Lamany Lorvanxay is the Head of
Saleuy Health Center, in Sam Neua district, Huaphanh Province. Her team provides
Maternal and Child Health Care, including immunization, and prevention and
treatment of malnutrition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">She is one of the 19 health workers from
Sam Neua who were recently trained on Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices
thanks to the 1,000 Days Project funded by MMG through UNICEF Australia, which
is part of a larger umbrella initiative, the Partnership for Improved Nutrition
(PIN), to which the European Union and UNICEF contribute substantially. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This training has allowed Lamany to better
perform her daily duties, including carrying out interpersonal communication
activities. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Working with ethnic minority groups is challenging because we
speak different languages. Their education level is also an issue and this
makes communication difficult. However, we have seen positive trends and I can
say that these groups are more supportive now than before,” she explains.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Reaching those in hard-to-reach areas is
not always easy, but Lamany is driven by her desire to improve people’s lives.
“It is an honour for me to help others. I don’t want to see children suffering
from malnutrition and I believe I can make a difference by promoting positive
behaviours and providing counselling”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">For the Government of Lao PDR, improving
the nutritional status of children and women is a priority. “To achieve this
goal, it is crucial that both parents and care givers understand their role,”
states Dr Phouangsy Phommavanh, Head of the Hygiene and Health Promotion
Division, Huaphanh Provincial Health Department. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3enIQDYI-A-pugu6RQLfG6Zafp4kiTthF71YtXHnejI2rTriWP5QJB-NLVVhCuigAac88w3KtG8JdS8VXfMCHJnBSJDlfLwEvblfmVg9xhTQQBd8ItrZoUszR0h2FeKeOs-0aZZSI0ez-/s1600/IMG-20180503-WA0001+case+study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3enIQDYI-A-pugu6RQLfG6Zafp4kiTthF71YtXHnejI2rTriWP5QJB-NLVVhCuigAac88w3KtG8JdS8VXfMCHJnBSJDlfLwEvblfmVg9xhTQQBd8ItrZoUszR0h2FeKeOs-0aZZSI0ez-/s320/IMG-20180503-WA0001+case+study.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Before starting to work with development
partners under the 1,000 Days Project, people in Huaphanh used to feed children
rice at a very early stage. Thanks to this programme, we have been promoting
exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months,” Dr. Phouangsy says. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As she recognizes,
change does not happen overnight. “When mothers hear for the first time about
exclusive breastfeeding, they tend to refuse it.” Cultural beliefs and
practices are deep rooted and, thus, it is important to closely work with these
communities, gain trust and continuously repeat the messages. “During the
awareness sessions, we also show evidence of the positive impact that exclusive
breastfeeding has on children’s health by comparing children that are fed rice
and those who have been exclusively breastfed, so they visually see the
difference, and this works,” she concludes.</span>UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-39383679400842748252018-07-05T10:00:00.000+07:002018-07-05T10:00:07.760+07:00Request for proposalUNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF)<br />
<br />
wishes to invite you to submit a proposal for<br />
<br />
Institutional Consultancy for <b>Development of a Parenting Package to promote early childhood development (ECD) for Lao PDR.</b><br />
<br />
SEALED Proposals should be sent to:<br />
<br />
UNICEF Vientiane, Lao PDR<br />
Bid Reference Number: LRPS-2018/9141013<br />
Km3 Thadeua Road, Ban Watnak<br />
Vientiane, Lao PDR<br />
Telephone: +856 21 315200 - 04<br />
Facsimile: +856 21 314852<br />
<br />
Deadline to submit Proposal: <b>25 July 2018</b><br />
<br />
For more info, click <a href="https://www.unicef.org/laos/about_22792.html">https://www.unicef.org/laos/about_22792.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-78851376377976057212018-06-15T09:02:00.001+07:002018-06-15T14:07:10.537+07:00For every child, a strong father<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>A Fathers’ Day tribute through a new UNICEF dad</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>- Saykoson Sanoubane</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Her kiss makes my day,” Phonesouphanh Thepbandith, Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) assistant at the UNICEF office in Vientiane, says with his
smile. “My life – including my priorities – totally changed when Ailynn was born.”
He and his wife Anny gave her the name Ailynn, which means graceful and light,
lover of nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCaR6ir2baRbItUCOswwBOb2b9BU98uwLpMW7nsVquksb9RtLIM0FeSbouhxKNQToh2wqUvObNGl2-AJAAsHVFzItghXyNmYy8unLPe1tELCvVSzSzMjfXnRabd8Cq3lQf86dYp4QrYPy/s1600/Photo+Phonesouphan+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCaR6ir2baRbItUCOswwBOb2b9BU98uwLpMW7nsVquksb9RtLIM0FeSbouhxKNQToh2wqUvObNGl2-AJAAsHVFzItghXyNmYy8unLPe1tELCvVSzSzMjfXnRabd8Cq3lQf86dYp4QrYPy/s400/Photo+Phonesouphan+family.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Phonesouphanh is excited to take on is his new role as father, more so
for having a supportive and enabling environment. When he joined UNICEF, his
wife was just four months pregnant. In that critical time, he needed to balance
his new job and his role at home. By availing UNICEF’s flexible leave policy,
he took on both new roles in stride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“UNICEF is a father-friendly office, I feel very fortunate!” he exclaims,
adding he learned to deal with new things every day. He started to do his
research on how being a good father and supportive husband to his pregnant wife
from internet sites, talking to his parents, friends and colleagues – all of
which allowed him to ask the right questions to their doctor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Following through nutrition advice from his doctor, Phonesouphanh made
sure he provided the right nutritious food for his wife; including fresh and
organic vegetables. “I also learned how to cook and now I am good at it,” he
proudly says with a smile. And on the day of his daughter’s birth, Phonesouphanh stayed by his wife’s side – scared but excited. But the moment he laid his eyes
on his newborn, he cried in relief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To help him and his new family settle, Phonesouphanh availed UNICEF’s paternity
leave to take care of his wife who was recovering – and to enjoy his new role
as a father. “I am so lucky to work where I can use my paternity leave, with a
supervisor who is very supportive,” he recalls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now Ailynn is six months – with lots of energy, giggles and in the pink
of health. “She is being breastfed by her mother,” Phonesouphanh proudly says.
He also remains committed to support his wife with all that he can provide; and
is very eager to see his daughter grow healthy and full of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJONQwIHbI51XY_6flYJj6WZ9T0lG7bn8kuG8ixl2DwMBjvR7_FNt4pm8QjipvEbIj3IgmNLrwfkgYtoS2t5-E5db4GCdiP68LWRdeK2sAsnTAcJ8FJ5aL9UESZL28i6rfn4M5rKnDN3D/s1600/Phonesoouphan+and+Alynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJONQwIHbI51XY_6flYJj6WZ9T0lG7bn8kuG8ixl2DwMBjvR7_FNt4pm8QjipvEbIj3IgmNLrwfkgYtoS2t5-E5db4GCdiP68LWRdeK2sAsnTAcJ8FJ5aL9UESZL28i6rfn4M5rKnDN3D/s400/Phonesoouphan+and+Alynn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fathers play a very important role in the early moments of a child’s
life, especially to enable their wives to breastfeed, and to help her provide
health stimulants to their newborn by playing with them and providing the love
and care. Phonesouphanh continues to visit the market after work, to get his
supply of nutrition food for his growing family. He also still cooks and takes
turns in changing her diapers at night, and most of all to calm her when she
cries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-language: TH;">“I love the new role I play for my
wife and as a father to my daughter. The closer Ailynn feels the bond with me
and his mother, the happier we are as a family. Even with just a kiss or
getting a moment to play with her before going to work – that alone gives me
the whole day’s supply of energy to work harder for my family.” Spoken like a
truly doting father. Because every child deserves all the love and affection,
health and protection that only a father can provide.</span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-13730155118699493662018-04-24T09:31:00.002+07:002018-04-24T09:31:48.478+07:00Ending polio outbreaks in Laos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>- by Simon Nazer</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBEH23CRVKDjtrB8o7vhLLQhKrx20O_jGoJ8lWjBI_Ai5BIfbQg8GkOmKj-UnLet6jx5eeiSl5FygIaiqwLiEYrE-LGICe9qH1PC2GvyA9WL__mvpUlYaH2YZdkAZ21An__Ia5Sh5YLeq/s1600/Story2+Photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBEH23CRVKDjtrB8o7vhLLQhKrx20O_jGoJ8lWjBI_Ai5BIfbQg8GkOmKj-UnLet6jx5eeiSl5FygIaiqwLiEYrE-LGICe9qH1PC2GvyA9WL__mvpUlYaH2YZdkAZ21An__Ia5Sh5YLeq/s400/Story2+Photo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s an unseasonably cool morning in Senxay Village, near
central Laos, and a good day for health teams to go door to door to vaccinate
children against polio. For mothers like 25-year-old Vardy, she’s delighted to
see her 5-month-old baby boy being immunized. “I’m really happy,” she says with
a beaming smile while bouncing her baby up and down. “I know after being
vaccinated my baby will stay healthy and safe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In remote ethnic villages like these, children are often the
most at-risk of preventable diseases and viruses, and it wasn’t so long ago
that tragedy had struck in a nearby village. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In late 2015, an 8-year-old boy suddenly had a high fever
and weak limbs. Four days later, he tragically died in hospital from vaccine-derived
polio virus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Reaching every child with vaccinations can be a challenge,
but it’s critical we do to stop similar outbreaks,” says Dr. Inphone Maniseng,
Director of the District Health Department overseeing a huge vaccination
campaign. “Since the outbreak we’ve carried out eight vaccination rounds for
thousands of children.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHRwGqo9fk9tm_xm2g1NsXoD77q6ey9_x-lTZ0Oo1BfB5OkkXBqDdRIwoXgFVcEzDeE8GnfukcVjcqcpL0LkscEZ0AfA82JqLwgO5yXr1uqRNf3OGlIGUgE8H4m3urZvqLwdCNfajdRvv/s1600/Story2+Photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHRwGqo9fk9tm_xm2g1NsXoD77q6ey9_x-lTZ0Oo1BfB5OkkXBqDdRIwoXgFVcEzDeE8GnfukcVjcqcpL0LkscEZ0AfA82JqLwgO5yXr1uqRNf3OGlIGUgE8H4m3urZvqLwdCNfajdRvv/s400/Story2+Photo2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, with the support of UNICEF and WHO, one last push
to ensure polio is eradicated once and for all is taking place over ten days in
13 provinces and 90 districts to vaccinate about 460,000 children under five.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mothers like Vardy in the picturesque villages of Laos not
only have their children vaccinated, but understand the need to ensure they
keep up with regular vaccinations. “I now know that vaccinations are important
to keep my children healthy. I’ll make sure I take them for immunization to
keep them safe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Community
participation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3cFjSRPYv6IrsiyURj4Q9qhpR6EUcBlabc6fddg_LPAXzVsV38DTwCWETvuOAmm448nGIXVtoNFc0w2oBfikldWvru6umDbz6mxsHWruLgexHohgIm2J2d-dBJfzkRF_kFh1hH6Ru1Rb/s1600/Story2+Photo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3cFjSRPYv6IrsiyURj4Q9qhpR6EUcBlabc6fddg_LPAXzVsV38DTwCWETvuOAmm448nGIXVtoNFc0w2oBfikldWvru6umDbz6mxsHWruLgexHohgIm2J2d-dBJfzkRF_kFh1hH6Ru1Rb/s400/Story2+Photo3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A big reason vaccine-derived polio broke out in this part of
Laos was, according to village leader Khamphet Chansomphou, because of low awareness
and lack of community involvement. “Raising awareness and explaining the
importance of being vaccinated to the villagers was really important to ensure
they come,” he says in the local health centre. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“They have to clearly understand that while it’s about
keeping children healthy, it’s also about education and their economy. Healthy
children can go to school and learn, healthy children don’t need costly medicines.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">UNICEF worked closely with partners to create educational
materials in local languages to inform villagers about the importance of being
vaccinated. UNICEF staff and partners travelled village to village to deliver
the information, show videos using mini-projectors and hold open discussions to
explain vaccinations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“By talking to communities we also get a better
understanding of how we can serve them,” says Mr Chansomphou. “It works both
ways – it helps us think about how to improve our services and understand
people’s needs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjY3wcaFGxfKuHOFhCRrOWdkE86xSJGSpnpkGjqkOnm1IkLbX9ljpGSgqyJrgioI4U7INpKFTOas9CccUpOmKHxRtWO6e07ZuOCww5nPnrgI0RvEnCtKEa9SM_mLLEiroMiN9cuBd6fcz/s1600/Story2+Photo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjY3wcaFGxfKuHOFhCRrOWdkE86xSJGSpnpkGjqkOnm1IkLbX9ljpGSgqyJrgioI4U7INpKFTOas9CccUpOmKHxRtWO6e07ZuOCww5nPnrgI0RvEnCtKEa9SM_mLLEiroMiN9cuBd6fcz/s400/Story2+Photo4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Polio has now been eradicated and children are safe again,
but health providers must ensure efforts to reach every child remain to ensure
similar outbreaks never happen again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nearby, 20 year old mother Xim Dua was just stopped by a
mobile health team. “This is the first time my 5-month baby has been vaccinated,”
she says shyly. “We live a long way, I didn’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now she knows and after the health team explains to her the
need to ensure her baby is vaccinated, she’ll be back. But UNICEF and partners
must continue to work to ensure they reach everyone, no matter how far they
are. Only then will every child be safe from preventable diseases and illness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-37943665967207910022018-04-23T14:39:00.001+07:002018-04-23T14:39:17.843+07:00No mountain too high: ending polio in Laos<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>- by Simon Nazer</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaOdLV891oQU4z1Yujcryr27Kul-U0XRVGhrWo7rNsFHPWvemmjlH42O-KR670BhR6S0wbqmQ9yuOst0ATz2F3FpOFRoyROMCadVJOF7rXo_tC6UaXztATbxEHScIo5QhQdWCCciPqx6q/s1600/Story1+Photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaOdLV891oQU4z1Yujcryr27Kul-U0XRVGhrWo7rNsFHPWvemmjlH42O-KR670BhR6S0wbqmQ9yuOst0ATz2F3FpOFRoyROMCadVJOF7rXo_tC6UaXztATbxEHScIo5QhQdWCCciPqx6q/s400/Story1+Photo1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For 15 years
Daeng Xayaseng has been travelling through rugged, undulating countryside by motorbike
and by foot to deliver vaccines to children in some of the most remote villages
in Laos. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUwY8LHftAzkrvlGfsG_Xx7qamJTcxD8a3MnOjiCa0zm0V79Hmczw3uWel7FV3f4E2IyW0Fj10Xxj0XhuLRyVH6CPRCEhFKtC1sZhspWcGyj6lKIStJ08UjYOnoVt9j_jTqCPG0H26Wtw/s1600/Story1+Photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUwY8LHftAzkrvlGfsG_Xx7qamJTcxD8a3MnOjiCa0zm0V79Hmczw3uWel7FV3f4E2IyW0Fj10Xxj0XhuLRyVH6CPRCEhFKtC1sZhspWcGyj6lKIStJ08UjYOnoVt9j_jTqCPG0H26Wtw/s400/Story1+Photo2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s hard
work but she is determined: “We have a target of children to reach and we’ll
achieve that no matter how long it takes,” she says. “We’ll keep working until
we reach every child.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Today her
team visits Nampoung village, 4 hours north of the capital of Laos, to deliver
polio vaccines.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPatI_oThVk-QQEsoh0-H-Cdq9wp-LWg0ff9U9a4QsqrcSxAXgrIRRJPfCgjCW9n0Gz3JsDcITJcoOwKL3Lokm8wr28Zh9pnrvhMiBiN2VJG5PrHOMmqkxPWw8KUar2yxeglBaIhh6OOn/s1600/Story1+Photo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPatI_oThVk-QQEsoh0-H-Cdq9wp-LWg0ff9U9a4QsqrcSxAXgrIRRJPfCgjCW9n0Gz3JsDcITJcoOwKL3Lokm8wr28Zh9pnrvhMiBiN2VJG5PrHOMmqkxPWw8KUar2yxeglBaIhh6OOn/s400/Story1+Photo3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2015 a
vaccine-derived polio virus was contracted by 11 children and adults, killing 2.
Remote, poor and often ethnic communities such as those in this Hmong village
are among the most vulnerable to the spread of disease and viruses. When dangerous
viral outbreaks occur, it’s important health teams come to those most in need
of health services.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2lbFLDJ_MxJM71xn52LrobKfa0yELJsFMoSlYFxvIdWWhRqrKGq6c0FvKWYsIZrb6Q67o7cUy46p4OGGP3GWuMfm6EGSEbowfCcrXzQEttT30k9PPS5H0xWLY0-vOi-jykwmFMpvsc8R/s1600/Story1+Photo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2lbFLDJ_MxJM71xn52LrobKfa0yELJsFMoSlYFxvIdWWhRqrKGq6c0FvKWYsIZrb6Q67o7cUy46p4OGGP3GWuMfm6EGSEbowfCcrXzQEttT30k9PPS5H0xWLY0-vOi-jykwmFMpvsc8R/s400/Story1+Photo4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Service
times depends on the season,” says Daeng. “It’s rice season right now. The
villagers are all farmers so everyone will be working in the fields, a long way
from their homes. That’s why our services depend on what the community asks; if
they say 3pm, we come at that time. If they say night time, we’ll be there.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The team first
sets up in the centre of the village. In the local Hmong language the village
chiefs calls on parents to bring their children to be immunized through booming
loudspeakers. Soon, parents arrive with small children in slings on their
backs, and the larger children following quickly behind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5l5xnGsdnHGsRM9B4w3YVzH8anPF7t7F0vUYsFuqklXvyh5x_sUU11KgHL9A3d7jPKaBOB7_aLkVnWlrxgjMY7eU5Yy0T3fIey1vDGvQm5WWQ73mET2emUMWaBR3n9jQN6Q09enG1ISAa/s1600/Story1+Photo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5l5xnGsdnHGsRM9B4w3YVzH8anPF7t7F0vUYsFuqklXvyh5x_sUU11KgHL9A3d7jPKaBOB7_aLkVnWlrxgjMY7eU5Yy0T3fIey1vDGvQm5WWQ73mET2emUMWaBR3n9jQN6Q09enG1ISAa/s400/Story1+Photo5.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“For 15
years I’ve been working on campaigns like this,” she says. “Today we’re here
with our outreach team to vaccinate children against polio. We’ll also go house
to house to make sure no child misses out on being vaccinated.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Once the
team finishes at the vaccination point, they then go mobile and walk house to
house to find children who didn’t come for immunization.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5M3z6sDAPifbZk58BgPk2IfWnzcc2aTi16NdZKIaRnt4M9YoqVV5n5wJPlWfToAowR8X89IpAx35FCbyeEc-Uvq5jindPo32jt5_TvQVKeF8NVE7bmdplHE0JdFdpGO2plqN2yEy_f2V/s1600/Story1+Photo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5M3z6sDAPifbZk58BgPk2IfWnzcc2aTi16NdZKIaRnt4M9YoqVV5n5wJPlWfToAowR8X89IpAx35FCbyeEc-Uvq5jindPo32jt5_TvQVKeF8NVE7bmdplHE0JdFdpGO2plqN2yEy_f2V/s400/Story1+Photo6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We don’t
want there to be another outbreak of polio so we have to reach everyone,” says
Daeng. “In order to do that, immunizing every child in remote communities like
this is a priority to ensure everyone is protected.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNICEF, with
WHO, is supporting the Lao Government to reach nearly half a million children
under five with potentially life-saving vaccines. More than 7,200 volunteers and
1,400 health workers like Daeng and her team have been mobilised to deliver the
oral polio vaccine as well as other vaccinations such as measles-rubella.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibY1a1Q1FBShsLVEkH1h1RfK9Ed86k2ble2EQ-1p6bAkN0jKNU8MJJQ4WlNd5b2yKu881FBjrFYcCqB3-K4doSEO0Q-XoOZjvJjZVHmq5vbEFs_kp7iG_wJcdeli1KY9yOiQiEV3VmV3UF/s1600/Story1+Photo7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibY1a1Q1FBShsLVEkH1h1RfK9Ed86k2ble2EQ-1p6bAkN0jKNU8MJJQ4WlNd5b2yKu881FBjrFYcCqB3-K4doSEO0Q-XoOZjvJjZVHmq5vbEFs_kp7iG_wJcdeli1KY9yOiQiEV3VmV3UF/s400/Story1+Photo7.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After
several hours, the work is complete.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“I’m very
happy and proud to do this job,” says Daeng once the team has packed up. “I’m
proud to do this job to serve the community and help in any way I can.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-86448124124751523812018-03-22T11:20:00.000+07:002018-03-22T11:22:29.827+07:00Improving pedagogical supervision to ensure students’ learning<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Siamphone Buakhamvongsa, Education Specialist, UNICEF Lao PDR</span></i></div>
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</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Laos
has achieved universal access and gender parity in primary education. Its
primary net enrolment rate stands at 98.8%. However, primary completion remains
unmet. The primary survival rate (79.6%) is the lowest in South East Asia and
the Pacific and shows poor learning outcomes. Adding to that, the repetition
rate in early primary grades is high, 11.5% in grade 1, which indicates lack of
school readiness of children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The
Government of Lao PDR, with the support of UNICEF, is trying to change this
situation. One of the obstacles that prevent children from learning is the low
capacity of teachers, and linked to this the fact that they have little
supervision and support, having an impact on their teaching practices. Pedagogical
supervision, therefore, has been considered the best approach to support
primary school teachers’ performance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpjcdoJ8SCKjHpXSyynSVKTQ2XLv3_FZ6NvGrsyAcF107F0yMvFr-3iCSWYYwo_UsdFoGp5_ZTW9w1d4A8cDqliO3-KLdc03nR0f2VTFvamTOTX5DURZQmCli2kCWhckkoihzre8y-1Ra/s1600/Photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="774" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpjcdoJ8SCKjHpXSyynSVKTQ2XLv3_FZ6NvGrsyAcF107F0yMvFr-3iCSWYYwo_UsdFoGp5_ZTW9w1d4A8cDqliO3-KLdc03nR0f2VTFvamTOTX5DURZQmCli2kCWhckkoihzre8y-1Ra/s400/Photo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Pedagogical advisors of Ta Oi and Saravan Districts assessing current
teaching <br />and learning needs during the capacity building workshop.</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmk_mE5AGzDKAx-0o7uF6EgOJATjdM904_hGDMxuslLSGDzeN2XxbLylc9O5S1pq1QqEfPAXxd3YWK0oFA0hRxLCO0PAIMN6UDvjxuXk72-E-wcUJt6-DeyWKr5mUMSkpuHp05_UIOQDM/s1600/Photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="779" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmk_mE5AGzDKAx-0o7uF6EgOJATjdM904_hGDMxuslLSGDzeN2XxbLylc9O5S1pq1QqEfPAXxd3YWK0oFA0hRxLCO0PAIMN6UDvjxuXk72-E-wcUJt6-DeyWKr5mUMSkpuHp05_UIOQDM/s320/Photo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Pedagogical advisors of Ta Oi and Saravan Districts <br />preparing a lesson
plan to address the teaching <br />and learning needs identified in the first part of
the workshop.</i></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Improve
pedagogical supervision with increased knowledge and skills of the district
pedagogical advisors (PAs) is critical,” explains Takaho Fukami, Chief of
Education, UNICEF Lao PDR. That is the reason why the learning oriented capacity
building of pedagogical advisors was introduced with UNICEF support in late
2016, shifting away from theory and going towards a much more practical
approach, where training is mostly conducted in real schools and where advisors
follow actual classroom situations.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“The
beauty of this approach is that it is conducted in a real setting. Pedagogical
advisors are confronted with real case scenarios and they receive regular
feedback from the trainers who are Government officials from the Ministry of
Education and Sports at Provincial level,” states Ms. Fukami. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Through
this capacity building exercise, PAs have gradually gained necessary knowledge
and skills to help teachers to effectively address the teaching and learning needs
of individual schools in the entire district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For many trainees, this has been a life-changing experience. “We have
been able to apply what we have learnt into real situations. As a trainee, I
have observed others and this has allowed me to gain knowledge too. I highly
appreciate this process of learning by doing. The feedback I have received will
help me to do better my job, explains Somkhit Mathavong, Head of the Pedagogical
Supervision Unit of Ta Oi and Saravan Districts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">With
improved knowledge and skills, especially in multi-grade teaching, the PAs have
progressively been able to change their supervision methods, using demonstrating,
coaching and mentoring techniques. The improved pedagogical supervision has
greatly resulted in changing teachers’ teaching practice and has made a
difference in the quality of learning.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshswfrHKl8DRTYqLt8S4QfMbNNjyWUbXmgEqjD6EwWNU4WiHmvslZuEoaiuCExZuUKLx6SFBdLxUi6kXNqj7Ux8qGJ_7TnlM3OKyTsBpIu2chtZVy675ctW2w7HKQbveRb-rGDWeziz2-/s1600/Photo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="757" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshswfrHKl8DRTYqLt8S4QfMbNNjyWUbXmgEqjD6EwWNU4WiHmvslZuEoaiuCExZuUKLx6SFBdLxUi6kXNqj7Ux8qGJ_7TnlM3OKyTsBpIu2chtZVy675ctW2w7HKQbveRb-rGDWeziz2-/s200/Photo3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mr. Somkhit leading a
session on teaching practices</span></i> <o:p></o:p></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“I really appreciate this kind of learning as
we can immediately apply the knowledge and skills in our supervision practice. Our
supervision methods and techniques have been increasingly improved from general
observation and thanks to the advice and mentoring from the coaches, who have
focused on very practical tips that will allow us to have a positive impact on
students’ learning,” said Somkhit Matthavong, Head of Pedagogical Supervision
center of Ta Oi District Education.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The
results of this approach and training can already be seen. “We have noticed
that in our district teachers have changed some of their practices,” explains
Mr Matthavong. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NDWg1jp0eNSnIV4wK7eGoSPPeOkvCxrG8NJcRyCrOKl6m6pLCtYwdjv0uL-R_M1cipsbl-AKNjgxfVpbBRaWZbOwAjmsmVfAL7S-S8jFuV8M5Untu6-klA0VibkxVu0BZOMdJFuYieSJ/s1600/Photo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="732" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NDWg1jp0eNSnIV4wK7eGoSPPeOkvCxrG8NJcRyCrOKl6m6pLCtYwdjv0uL-R_M1cipsbl-AKNjgxfVpbBRaWZbOwAjmsmVfAL7S-S8jFuV8M5Untu6-klA0VibkxVu0BZOMdJFuYieSJ/s320/Photo5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grade one non-Lao speaking students are enjoying their learning.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As
some training participants acknowledged, there are still critical challenges to
address in terms of teaching and learning at district level, particularly
related to how to deal with teaching non-Lao speaking students and multi-grade
teaching. UNICEF will continue to provide support to the Government in order to
build capacity, knowledge and skills in these areas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-49581171212299694852018-03-21T11:37:00.001+07:002018-03-21T13:18:40.814+07:00Strong Community Engagement Benefits Young Children’s Learning and Development<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">- Maliphet Soukhaseum, Education Specialist, UNICEF
Lao PDR</span></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Phao, March 2018</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> - As in many other places in Lao
PDR, the Chief of Phao Village in Laongam District (Saravan Province), Mr.
Kuang Chleaunsouk, plays a very important role acting a mediator in disputes,
fixing problems, providing basic social amenities to the community and creating
awareness on key issues, among many other tasks. What makes the job more
special here is that he is an active member of the Village Education Development
Committee (VEDC) who oversees the activities of the pre-primary school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In June last
year the chief of this village had the opportunity to attend a learning
exchange workshop on pre-primary education in Saravan Province organized by the
Ministry of Education and Sports with the support of UNICEF. The purpose of
this meeting was to provide pre-primary teachers, school principals and members
of the VEDC from UNICEF-supported pre-primary schools with opportunities to
share their experiences and learn from each other. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF0LL9Yarrbbo7cq1kT0RSqppe4s_O2TMzEjzCwICWrSiAiJs_ujnK2oXixPFYce1-ZJ90WQ_dkVYvOylTA986p5cYdHmAeYCSSMXxThJAt-2XLDrVOqNrCohvwGRpuQSygUgNoAp3uIK/s1600/3+men.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF0LL9Yarrbbo7cq1kT0RSqppe4s_O2TMzEjzCwICWrSiAiJs_ujnK2oXixPFYce1-ZJ90WQ_dkVYvOylTA986p5cYdHmAeYCSSMXxThJAt-2XLDrVOqNrCohvwGRpuQSygUgNoAp3uIK/s320/3+men.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Mr. Kuang
(first from left) with other two VEDC members <br />who work together to support pre-primary
education</span> </i></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>activities</i></span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“What made
the experience interesting is that I had the opportunity to listen to what
others are doing and now I am putting into practice what I learnt, especially
when it comes to mobilizing community members to support outdoor activities
organized by the pre-primary school,” he explains. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">He recognizes that now he feels more comfortable in his role.
“Before I didn’t understand why and how the Village Chief could support pre-primary
education. Thanks to the learning exchange, I have a better understanding of
what is expected from me and have new ideas to work with other members of VEDC and
encourage community members to play a role in the classroom management”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mr. Kuang
has been working hard ever since he came back from the workshop to convince
other villagers to participate in the school development meetings and actively
support the classroom activities “If we want our children to learn and develop,
we need to support them actively,” he states without a doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rtmZ24PrhngD_qOL2OiOIWyUNui1bTLU2x7ntrugnH342ZLrd4HZYjkUDAk_W8Fd5WKbNasf5b7edaHLQbL2FjQ4Bacuj4gk0VQXLW08ja6UmVNU08SsU6NbqTgIvI8P1Qie1zeGlTyy/s1600/IMG_3733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rtmZ24PrhngD_qOL2OiOIWyUNui1bTLU2x7ntrugnH342ZLrd4HZYjkUDAk_W8Fd5WKbNasf5b7edaHLQbL2FjQ4Bacuj4gk0VQXLW08ja6UmVNU08SsU6NbqTgIvI8P1Qie1zeGlTyy/s320/IMG_3733.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Locally-made
playground equipment helps children to develop their balance, coordination,
flexibility and strength</i></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In addition,
the village chief and the pre-primary teachers have recently started to
organize consultation meetings with the VEDC to boost engagement and motivation
and better work together for their children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzPht-iAgh1Zyh8lVQ_mNPz3IIB7zo6T_QqoTSOUsxaN9LnTUCNyk_QocVqSBdkFwak6UkriUmTbiMvz3Zr2Wb5_LoYcOc3CxfJvrluLuuswuCi3oFF9BeSEa1KDB1SARttIIipibsp2Z/s1600/IMG_3800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzPht-iAgh1Zyh8lVQ_mNPz3IIB7zo6T_QqoTSOUsxaN9LnTUCNyk_QocVqSBdkFwak6UkriUmTbiMvz3Zr2Wb5_LoYcOc3CxfJvrluLuuswuCi3oFF9BeSEa1KDB1SARttIIipibsp2Z/s320/IMG_3800.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Locally-made playground equipment helps<br />children to develop their balance,<br />coordination, flexibility and strength</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Early
Childhood Education technical staff from the Provincial Education and Sports
Service (PESS) and the District Education and Sports Bureau (DESB) have closely
worked with the VEDC and the pre-primary teachers in Phao Village providing
guidance to ensure appropriate learning for 0 to 5-year old children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The outcomes of these meetings were reflected
in the 2017-2018 School Development Plan which included concrete actions to be
carried out within the community. “Once the Plan was approved we called for a
meeting with community members to discuss the way forward. It was important for
everyone to understand their role. We also provided guidance regarding the type
of playground to build and timelines,” Mr. Khuang explains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbMsIt5DZT_4BfYXt3wa2jO7_0u6jbSaFMbL6vcZA4nJFlW3xkKSF-nxt3WFCVQTBBUBDX1NRwWZcMbB17ZfMYLDSgB4fR2Nu9SaoMBpU7uyB84FS0MjQ1m-lA-fBACAj9Br5daNxUz7b/s1600/IMG_3781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbMsIt5DZT_4BfYXt3wa2jO7_0u6jbSaFMbL6vcZA4nJFlW3xkKSF-nxt3WFCVQTBBUBDX1NRwWZcMbB17ZfMYLDSgB4fR2Nu9SaoMBpU7uyB84FS0MjQ1m-lA-fBACAj9Br5daNxUz7b/s320/IMG_3781.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Locally-made
playground equipment helps <br />children to develop their balance, <br />coordination,
flexibility and strength</i></span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Coordination,
closely monitoring and community hard work led to the finalization of the
playground within the proposed timelines. This has allowed children to play and
continue their learning and development process. “We are very proud to see our
children playing in the playground built by all of us,” says with a smile in
his face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">VEDCs and
communities take a crucial role in supporting quality teaching and learning.
Participation and contribution from parents and care-givers, with strong
support by VEDCs in children’s learning is bringing significant benefits for children
and is helping them to be well for primary school.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">UNICEF will
continue to support pre-primary schools and VEDCs in key priority provinces,
with a focus on improving the quality of pre-primary education in rural and
disadvantaged communities with the support of donors and key partners, like the
Japan Committee for UNICEF. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="height: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651337751772378579.post-43395526601448083282018-03-21T10:16:00.005+07:002018-03-21T10:42:12.215+07:00Encouraging Learning through Play to Develop School Readiness<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: right;">Maliphet
Soukhaseum, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Education Specialist, UNICEF Lao PDR </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Leuan Thon is a village, mostly populated by
Khmu ethnic group, located in Saravan District (Saravan Province) which is
about 24 km far from the district town. It took us 30 minutes to get there from
Saravan town through a partially paved road. The pre-primary school here that
we came to visit was established in 2012 and is one of the 30 schools supported
by the Japan Committee for UNICEF. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the first things that strikes my mind is the cleanliness of the
classroom where children follow attentively the lesson. The efforts to create a
learning environment for children immediately caught the attention of the visitor.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
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<i><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>20 children (14 girls)
sit in a circle on the mat ing attention to the pre-primary teacher who is
giving <span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>instructions for a learning
activity. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ms. Kaison, a pre-primary teacher who was trained on pre-primary
education management with UNICEF support in January 2018, agrees to demonstrate
how she applies lessons learnt into practice. “The training has helped me a lot
as we were taught how to create a conductive learning environment which is
child-centered. We also learnt new methodological approaches to encourage and
support learning of pre-primary aged children through play, and they actually
love it,” the teacher explains.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9UivVFaDvjd73mZkPZRsmFlhQp9IYA1E14u3aRt7zDQhZKudY07nCtE_t01Tn2_uro4c3Y94EpX6kdArtDEVpVsrm56nKH7YtpyUvgj1X-pkyCtPCJF8iw9WQUvF3AvI5M7kRzAHCd_I/s1600/IMG_3410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9UivVFaDvjd73mZkPZRsmFlhQp9IYA1E14u3aRt7zDQhZKudY07nCtE_t01Tn2_uro4c3Y94EpX6kdArtDEVpVsrm56nKH7YtpyUvgj1X-pkyCtPCJF8iw9WQUvF3AvI5M7kRzAHCd_I/s320/IMG_3410.JPG" title="" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">20 children (14 girls) sit
in a circle on the mating attention to the pre-primary teacher who is giving instructions for a learning activity. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Pre-primary education
is one of the early childhood education services stipulated in the Education
Law. With UNICEF’s support, the Ministry of Education and Sports aims to
improve the quality of pre-primary education to ensure that children get ready
for school, schools get ready for children, and families understand the
importance of supporting their children's learning and holistic development. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the class<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While I was observing Ms. Kaison’s class, I had the opportunity to
interact with some of the pupils and I was pleasantly surprised to see that
they were quite talkative. Normally, it takes a while for children to open up,
but I started to get questions from them right away. This was the case of a
5-year old girl called Chomsy, who came straight to me and without being told
by her teacher asked me “what is your name?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“She is a fast learner and speaks with confidence. She is always the
first child to raise her hand when I ask questions, “ Ms Kaison explains. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I can clearly see that. We are all sitting in a circle and the
teacher has asked for a volunteer to do an exercise with cards. Chomsy has
taken the initiative and has quickly grouped the picture cards in pairs
correctly as Ms Kaison requested.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2IL3lAbZosDypBvBq2b8U4WshRaKoAe8-qeXvPImDeSzVOKtOknHKfSPaNdxLE0AYeA95tpZPAb9rUhMNoh3LqubqcZmlxSERu29MepgIgtzBoVIYajH4GbcyaEBg5STwQab_n8BMuiv/s320/IMG_3418.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="179" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Chomsy during a class exercise</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Chomsy is the youngest daughter in her family. She has two brothers
and one sister, and all of them study at the primary school which is located in
the same compound as the pre-primary school. Chomsy comes to school every day
and loves to play with her friends as she learns new things. The good thing is that not only she learns
fast, but she is also a good fellow and always helps other children when she
realizes they need help,” explains the teacher with pride. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Learning while playing</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At
this pre-primary school children are encouraged to learn while playing. “We
have outdoor activities and children sign and dance. They have so much fun,”
says Ms. Kaison while explaining that they organize creativity sessions where
children are given certain materials to build or create what they want. “I
still remember what Chomsy did. I gave them clay and she made some big nails.
When I asked her about her work she said that she had made ten nails for their
parents to repair their house,”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQedJBjHI_HMW2YLgBN6rcUzIANfC8CK003081JHXSKIP0oezkgprT5CHpEiqAQkx2gpgrKiES-NwMw1r4NaIRNxMZYPx992WqNYRhgPhIjvzqT98SfrPHM3pousW4eFV5nO4KpvFCYNE_/s1600/IMG_3523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQedJBjHI_HMW2YLgBN6rcUzIANfC8CK003081JHXSKIP0oezkgprT5CHpEiqAQkx2gpgrKiES-NwMw1r4NaIRNxMZYPx992WqNYRhgPhIjvzqT98SfrPHM3pousW4eFV5nO4KpvFCYNE_/s200/IMG_3523.JPG" width="111" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and outdoor
activities</span></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwR3RSTt5aoq-3P49pmyfwU9sRaEeSjqN-9py342eNXJEfOU1Nbt43EOe-L78Q-5s7ca7FNCTow0CguBIYx6BtHdW6sZk6LWdZgPe2CUHPhOiLSwMXAyWQqrIJyLbmFCHleD-zHxOvfcD/s200/IMG_3444.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="111" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Chomsy activity participates<br />in the class-room</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Active learning through play, which Ms. Kaison learned from the UNICEF-supported teacher training, has been very well received by pre-primary children not only here but elsewhere. Not only it helps them to learn but it also promotes creativity and critical thinking and builds their communication skills.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Investing in early years</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For the Ministry of Education and Sports of
Lao PDR, pre-primary education is a key strategy to equip young children with
school readiness and thus is putting special efforts in strengthening its early
childhood education systems and programmes with the support of key partners
like the Japan Committee for UNICEF. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">School readiness helps children to develop
essential skills, knowledge and attitudes that are required to succeed in
school and to continue learning later in life. Physical, cognitive, social, and
emotional development are all essential ingredients of school readiness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Acknowledging the
importance of investing in early years, UNICEF will continue to support equitable
access to and improve quality of pre-primary education in Lao PDR. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>UNICEF Laoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14344123769914681954noreply@blogger.com1