Senior officials from Champassak, Xekong and Attapeu provinces on February 24 unveil a plaque at the handover of Covid diagnosis and treatment facilities.

 New respiratory disease units built at three southern hospitals

People living in the south of Laos will benefit from improved treatment of respiratory diseases, thanks to new facilities built primarily for the diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19.
The new units have been built with grant funding of US$600,000 from the World Bank and US$2 million from the budget of a project to prevent, control and respond to Covid outbreaks.
One of the centres has been built at the Xekong provincial hospital, another at the Attapeu provincial hospital, and a third at the Phontong district hospital in Champassak province. They will be used in the treatment of infectious diseases, tuberculosis, and other respiratory diseases, including Covid.
The handover ceremony last Friday was attended by representatives of the project to prevent, control and respond to Covid outbreaks, the World Bank, and Champassak, Xekong and Attapeu provincial authorities.
Construction of the three facilities began during the Covid outbreak and was completed last month.
The buildings have passed technical certification by the World Health Organisation.
The unit at Phonthong district hospital has 22 beds, the one in Attapeu province has 24 beds, and the facility in Xekong has 20 beds.
Although there are few Covid infections in Laos at present, and the disease is not generally regarded as serious, these units will be able to deal with other infectious diseases, drug-resistant tuberculosis and other respiratory illnesses, which will greatly improve health services for the people of Champassak, Attapeu and Xekong provinces.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update February 28, 2023)