Working for Health in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1962-2012
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YEARS Working for Health in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic 5 1962–2012 Fifty Years Working for Health in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic 1962–2012 WHO Library Cataloguing in the Publication Data Fifty years: working for health in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 1962-2012 1. Delivery of healthcare. 2. Health services. 3. Laos. 4. National health programs. 5. Primary health care. I. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. ISBN 978 92 9061 601 6 (NLM Classification: WA 530) © World Health Organization 2013 All rights reserved. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. The World Health Organization does not warrant that the information contained in this publication is complete and correct and shall not be liable for any damages incurred as a result of its use. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from Marketing and Dissemination, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel: +41 22 791 2476; fax: +41 22 791 4857; email: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce WHO publications, in part or in whole, or to translate them – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to Publications, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; email: [email protected]). For WHO Western Pacific Regional Publications, request for permission to reproduce should be addressed to Publications Office, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, P.O. Box 2932, 1000, Manila, Philippines, Fax. No. (632) 521-1036, email: [email protected] Fifty Years Working for Health in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic 1962–2012 Contents Foreword ii 4. Opening Up: New Directions and New Partners (1986–2000) 19 Who’s Who in WHO iv Health Trends during this period 20 Context 21 Acknowledgements vi The Work of WHO in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic 22 Case Study: Model Healthy Villages in Vientiane Capital 24 Introduction viii Case Study: The Expanded Programme on Immunization in the The Foundation of the World Health Organization ix Lao People’s Democratic Republic 26 The Lao People’s Democratic Republic joins the World Health Organization x Case Study: The Fight Against Schistosomiasis on Khong Island 27 About the Lao People’s Democratic Republic xi 5. Into the New Millennium (2000–2012) 29 1. The Early Days of WHO in Laos (1950–1962) 1 Context 30 Context 2 Global Health Issues and their Impact on the Lao People’s The Work of WHO in Laos 3 Democratic Republic 31 Case Study: Yaws Control in Savannakhet Province, as told Case Study: Strengthening Surveillance and Response 34 by Dr Edmond J. Douvier 6 Case Study: Managing Emerging Infectious Disease Threats through Field Epidemiology Training 35 2. Basic Health Services in Difficult Times (1962–1975) 7 Aid Effectiveness 36 Context 8 The Vientiane Agreement 36 The Work of WHO in Laos 9 Meeting the Challenge of Maternal and Child Health 37 Case Study: Smallpox Vaccination Campaign in Sayabouly Province 10 Case Study: Great Expectations 40 Case Study: Malaria control in Vientiane Province 12 Case Study: Kinoy’s Story 41 Looking to the Future 42 3. Primary Health Care Era of “Health for All” (1975–1986) 13 Context 14 Abbreviations 46 Alma Ata 15 The Work of WHO in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic 17 Bibliography 47 Case Study: Traditional Medicine (Then and Now) 17 i Foreword by the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific It is my great honour in the implementation of its Health Sector to be associated with the Development Plan, in the achievement celebration of the 50th of the health-related Millennium anniversary of the World Development Goals and the attainment of Health Organization’s universal health coverage. presence in the Lao WHO has witnessed impressive People’s Democratic improvements in the health of the Lao Republic. The WHO people over the past five decades. The Country Liaison Office population has grown from 2 million was first established in people to just over 6 million in that Laos in 1962, and it was later expanded time, and the life expectancy at birth has into a WHO Representative Office in 1968. increased from 55 years in 1995 to 64 years Over the last 50 years, WHO has for males and 67 years for females in 2010. worked with Lao authorities, health The number of health centres has increased professionals, communities and from 664 in 2000 to 862 in 2010, making development partners at many levels. We basic health-care services more accessible have built a strong partnership based on to all. mutual trust with the Government of the WHO has worked with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. WHO Government of the Lao People’s is proud to be a part of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on the global Democratic Republic’s health development eradication of smallpox, and its through an historically challenging period, certification in 1979 represents a key and the Organization will continue its achievement in the history of WHO. The commitment to support the Government Lao People’s Democratic Republic has ii remained polio free since the last case of The International Health Regulations WHO looks forward to a brighter the disease was confirmed in 1996, and the (2005) entered into force on 15 June 2007, future with our partners in Government, number of measles cases has decreased and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic other United Nations agencies, from 295 in 2005 to 153 in 2010. is committed to meet the core capacities nongovernmental organizations, civil The International Conference on required under IHR (2005). During the society and the people of the Lao People’s Primary Health Care in Alma Ata in 1978 H1N1 pandemic in 2009, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. set the framework for WHO’s successful Democratic Republic demonstrated collaboration and facilitation of health its improved public health capacity to sector policies, strategies and plans and respond to public health emergencies of resulted in sector-wide coordination international concern and contributed to and knowledge exchanges in the Lao global information sharing. People’s Democratic Republic. Since Various challenges continue to confront Shin Young-soo, MD, Ph.D. that time, the Expanded Programme on the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, WHO Regional Director for the Immunization has worked to improve including globalization, urbanization, Western Pacific under-5 morbidity and morality rates. migration, mobile populations, ageing, the Safe Motherhood initiatives in the 1990s increasing burden of noncommunicable brought declines in the maternal and diseases, emerging disease outbreaks, infant mortality ratio. And more than 40 epidemics and pandemics, and natural areas of joint development on national disasters. WHO remains committed to policies, strategies and plans, as well as supporting and collaborating with the the recent health-sector reform plan, reflect Government and the health sector in their the close collaboration between WHO, efforts to achieve better health for the the Government and other health-sector people of the Lao People’s Democratic development partners. Republic. iii Who’s who in WHO Dr Brock Chisholm Dr Marcelino Candau Dr Halfdan Mahler Canada Brazil Denmark 1948–1953 1953–1973 1973–1988 DIRECTOR-GENERAL DIRECTOR Dr Fang I-Chi Dr Francisco J. Dy Dr Hiroshi Nakajima China Philippines Japan 1951–1965 1965–1978 1979–1988 REGIONAL OFFICE COUNTRY OF Dr Arthur E. Brown Dr Shammas Dr Antonio Brown Dr Wolfgang H. Huehne Dr G. J. A. Ferrand Dr Roger Leclercq Dr Ravi Ramdoyal United Kingdom Israel Bolivia Germany France Belgium Mauritius 1956–1962 1962–1963 1964–1967 1968–1970 1971–1975 1975–1980 1981–1985 HEAD iv Dr Hiroshi Nakajima Dr Gro H. Bruntland Dr Lee Jong-wook Dr Margaret Chan Japan Norway Republic of Korea China 1988–1998 1998–2003 2003–2006 2006– Dr A. Nordström* Sweden Dr Han Sang-Tae Dr Shigeru Omi Dr Shin Young-soo Republic of Korea Japan Republic of Korea 1989–1999 1998–2009 2009– Dr Ziaul Islam Dr Francois Canonne Dr Imrich Geizer Dr. Yves Renault Dr Giovani Deodato Dr Dean Shuey Dr Dong II Ahn Dr Yunguo Liu India France Czechoslovakia Belgium Italy USA Republic of Korea China 1986–1992 1993–1994 1995–1997 1997–1998 1998–2004 2005–2006 2006–2011 2011– * From 23 May 2006 until 3 January 2007, Dr Nordström of Sweden was appointed by the Executive Board to serve as acting Director-General, following the untimely death of v Dr LEE Jong-wook on 22 May 2006. Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, particularly the Ministry of Health, for its kind assistance in the sharing and verification of data. The government provided important contacts and advice during the research stage. The staff at the WHO Representative Office in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have generously shared their experiences in the field of health and have provided valuable input and assistance in reviewing the book for technical accuracy. Finally, we also would like to acknowledge the staff at Khaosan Pathet Lao (Lao News Agency) for retrieving the historical photographs and transcribing labels and captions.