KOFIH improving quality of care at Lao health facilities

The quality of healthcare services in Laos has improved, thanks to support from the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) through the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Project.

The launches of Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) pilot project took place in the provinces of Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, Phongsaly and Attapeu on June 18, 2024.

Phase III of the RMNCAH project (2022-2027) is taking place in the provinces of Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, Phongsaly and Attapeu.
The project is funded with US$20million (26 billion KRW) from KOFIH and aims to improve the quality of healthcare at health facilities.
Project Background
The RMNCAH project has driven by high maternal and child mortality rates, and KOFIH has been implementing the project in Laos since 2010.
• Phase I (2010-2015) focused on health system strengthening in Xieng Khuang and Huaphan provinces.
• Phase II (2016-2021) expanded on Phase I, with a focus on RMNCAH in Xieng Khuang and Huaphan.
• Phase III (2022-2027) expanded to four provinces and aims to improve RMNCAH service quality through healthcare system strengthening.
Project Achievements (2010-2021):
Over a decade, KOFIH achieved significant milestones in Laos’ healthcare improvement such as:
• Capacity Building: trained about 2,700 medical staff including doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare providers at the provincial and district levels on RMNCAH services, including Antenatal Care (ANC), Postnatal Care (PNC), Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC), Basic Emergency Obstetrics Care (BEmOC), Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics Care (CEmOC), Maternal Perinatal Deaths Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), and Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI)).
• Infrastructure Development: Constructed 46 new health centres and 7 maternal and child health buildings, with a total investment of US$5,291,448.
• Improved Access: Expanded healthcare services through outreach activities in remote areas.
Partnerships:
KOFIH collaborates with the Lao Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation (WHO), and United Nations Population Fund to implement these projects.
KOFIH RMNCAH Project Phase III

The Training of Trainers on the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B from June 18-21, 2024.

Based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed on May 25, 2023, KOFIH has committed to supporting all districts within target provinces.
The overarching goal of the third phase of the project is to reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality rates by strengthening the health system and enhancing the quality of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) care.
To achieve this goal, the project will focus on:
1.    Improving essential RMNCAH health services for high-risk pregnancies in provincial and type-A district hospitals.
2.    Increasing the readiness of essential RMNCAH services through a strengthened referral system for high-risk pregnancies.
3.    Strengthening governance within the Ministry of Health and Provincial Health Offices for effective RMNCAH programme implementation.
KOFIH Completed Health Centre Construction in Phongsaly
As part of its 2024 annual plan, KOFIH successfully completed construction projects for two health centres in Phongsaly province.
Handover Ceremony and Collaboration
On June 4, 2024, KOFIH partnered with the Phongsaly Provincial Health Office of the Lao Ministry of Health to host a handover ceremony for the completed health centres, namely the Sinxay Health Centre in Khua district and Pialor Health Centre in Mai district.
Representatives from central departments, local authorities, community members, and KOFIH attended the ceremony.
Project Investment and Opening
The total construction cost of the two health centres amounted to US$294,592. These new facilities are now officially operational, providing much-needed healthcare services to residents of the target villages.
More information about the event can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/wBcexwvYrZR434Tj/?mibextid=qi2Omg
KOFIH and the Attapeu Provincial Health Office Successfully Complete Health Facility Construction
The handover ceremony of new health facilities in Samakhixay district, namely the Maternal and Child Health building and the Meanhuamuang Health Centre, took place on June 14, 2024.

KOFIH consultant team conducted a comprehensive training on high-risk antenatal care in Huaphan province recently.

The opening ceremony of health centre in Attapeu province recently.

The event was attended by representatives from central government departments, local authorities, communities, and KOFIH. The total construction cost of both facilities was US$275,279. Additionally, KOFIH provided essential medical equipment worth US$48,527.
These newly constructed health facilities are now officially operational, providing vital healthcare services to the local community. More information about the event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/share/v/pVB2FgBtHw6dNu1A/?mibextid=WC7FNe.
Laos launches Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) pilot project
A national committee meeting was convened on June 18, 2024, to officially launch the EMTCT pilot project in the provinces of Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, Phongsaly and Attapeu.
The meeting brought together 75 participants representing central hospitals, universities, research centres, the National Centre for Maternal and Child Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and KOFIH. Minister of Health Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith and the Country Director of KOFIH Laos, Ms Kim Hyunkyong, and a WHO representative co-chaired the event.
KOFIH Supports EMTCT Training and Equipment Distribution in Laos
The National Centre for Maternal and Child Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), with support from the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), conducted a Training of Trainers on the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B from June 18-21, 2024.
The training took place in Vientiane and was attended by provincial hospital and maternal and child health staff from Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, Phongsaly and Attapeu provinces. The four-day training covered EMTCT, high-risk mothers, and Referral Communication & Remote Consultation.
To enhance high-risk antenatal care screening at health facilities, the National Centre for Maternal and Child Health and WHO distributed antenatal care kits (including hemoglobin test, urine dipstick test, HIV, syphilis, HBV, and glucose meter test kits) to 217 health centres across the four provinces.
KOFIH Enhances High-Risk Antenatal Care Capacity in Huaphan
From July 15 to 18, 2024, a KOFIH consultant team conducted a comprehensive training on high-risk antenatal care in Huaphan province. The four-day training aimed to bolster the capabilities of healthcare providers in identifying and managing high-risk pregnancies.
Twenty-eight participants, including obstetricians, gynecologists, pediatricians, nurses, and midwives from the provincial hospital and three type-A district hospitals (Xiengkhor, Samtai and Hiam) attended the training.
The curriculum emphasised three key high-risk factors and included essential newborn care and small and sick newborn care protocols.
Training methodologies combined theoretical lectures with practical case-based learning and hands-on demonstrations led by experts from central hospitals and the KOFIH consultant team.

By Adverterail Desk
 (Latest Update August 19, 2024)