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PSI Provides US$2.4 Million to Fight Malaria

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Population Services International to Laos (PSI) has agreed to provide over US$2.4 million for fiscal year 2017-2018 to strengthen the private health sector’s capacity to combat malaria.

A signing ceremony for the agreement was held on Tuesday between the Director General of the Communicable Disease Control Department, Dr Bounlay Phommasack, and PSI representative, Mr Sihamano Bannavong.

The funding for 12 months is part of ongoing support under the Strengthening Capacity Amongst the Private Health Sector for Malaria Prevention and Surveillance project which aims to curb malaria in the three southern provinces of Champassak, Saravan and Savannakhet.

Speaking at the signing ceremony Dr Bounlay Phommasack said the project would cover malaria prevention and surveillance in the three provinces because they had the highest rate of the disease in the country.

He said the support would provide training on the treatment and reporting of malaria for the owners of pharmacies, clinics and private hospitals to assure quality of treatment, diagnosis and reporting of malaria cases according to government policy.

For several years, officials and local health authorities had been promoting the regular emptying of containers that collect standing water, and the clearing of any undergrowth around homes, he said.

Every family should throw out water that collects in jars, vases and dishes and should cover such vessels to prevent more water filling them up. Schools, hospitals, factories, hotels, restaurants, tourist facilities and offices should organise cleaning activities to remove any sources of stagnant water to prevention malaria, he added.

He explained the important role the project was playing in fighting the disease under the National Prevention and Control Malaria Strategic Plan (2016-2025) and Plan of Action (2016-2020) to provide a common framework for all stakeholders to accelerate the nationwide scale up of evidenced-led malaria reduction interventions by the government, development partners, the private sector and all stakeholders.

It stipulates the priority interventions, strategic re-orientation and investment required for achieving the goals and targets.

PSI representative Mr Sihamano Bannavong said they would continue to provide support to Laos for malaria prevention and control.

We learned many important lessons this year in terms of social mobilisation, the need to use an integrated multispectral approach for malaria control, and getting communities involved in maintaining a clean environment to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, he said.

Source: Vientiane Times

PM Outlines Measures to Drive Growth, Curb Spending

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Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith yesterday instructed authorities to ensure the macro-economy was stabilised along with improving the investment climate as key factors to attract investment and drive growth.

The premier gave the advice during a two-day meeting that ended yesterday. The meeting was convened to give instruction on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and budget for 2017, which set the target for economic growth at 7 percent.

To attract foreign and domestic private investment, Mr Thongloun told the meeting to streamline procedures and expedite the investment proposal process in a transparent manner.

Mechanisms must be quick, timely and transparent. It [the investment proposal] must be passed through only a single window, he told the more than 500 participants from central and local departments.

Mr Thongloun stressed the need to fully implement the amended Investment Promotion Law, which was passed by the National Assembly at the end of last month.

He said the current project consideration process was too slow and was not transparent.

Let us address the issue beginning with action next month, he told the meeting.

The premier told leading officials from central and local state organisations to ensure that the macro-economy was stabilised, and to keep the inflation rate stable as well as regulating product prices in markets to prevent unnecessary fluctuation. These steps were essential to attract investment.

He told central and local departments to incorporate the 2017 socio-economic development plan into their work plan and programmes based on local potential, saying that much potential remained untapped.

The premier stressed the need to prioritise state-funded investment projects in order to maximise the benefits, particularly infrastructure development projects. He called for the meeting to manage public debt more efficiently otherwise more debt would accumulate.

The prime minister reiterated the need to address recurrent issues that saw state agencies violate financial discipline.

He said the government would reform state-owned enterprises that had incurred losses in an attempt to help them make a profit.

In this regard, he said some state-owned banks and Lao Airlines were seeking foreign partners and some enterprises were likely to find partners.

He also said the government was determined to cut lavish spending by officials, especially on vehicles, after learning that state expenditure had been too extravagant in the past. He added that the Politburo  the top political decision-making body was in agreement with this objective.

He reiterated the government’s determination to ensure that civil servants’ salaries would be paid on time each month in 2017 and instructed the meeting to disburse all salaries that were still outstanding from 2016.

Source: Vientiane Times

Thailand to Restrict Entry Visas for Foreigners

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Laotian Times
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Thailand Visas
Thailand Visa Application Appointment Process Online Sees 2-Week Wait Times

Social media in countries bordering Thailand have been flooded with comments and queries after a notice on changes to Thailand’s visa laws was quietly released on the internet. This new Ministerial Regulation of the Thai Ministry of the Interior advises an update on immigration at land borders. According to the notice, immigration checkpoints at land border crossings in Thailand will restrict entry for foreigners who enter under the popular Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme to only two visits per calendar year. The new law is scheduled to enter into force from December 31, 2016.

The Laotian Times contacted the Thai Consulate in Vientiane and was informed that although the consulate is aware of the document, it has not yet received official information from its headquarters in Bangkok.

Thai Visa Restrictions May Cause Difficulties for Foreigners in Laos

The new Thai visa restriction could create difficulties for many foreigners living in countries neighbouring Thailand, who rely on medical and commercial services across the border. An economic impact may also be felt in small border towns such as Nong Khai, which sees a huge influx of traffic each day.

6-Month Thai Visas Now Available

The Thai consulate suggests that foreigners living in Laos who hold a valid Lao work visa may apply for a six-month, multiple entry tourist visa for Thailand, which is valued at around 5,000 baht.
The new restriction will likely not affect Lao citizens, who do not currently require a visa for entry into Thailand.

BCEL-KT: Trade Summary (Dec 20, 2016)

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Trade summary

LSX index remained stable at 1,029.74 points for a second day. Even though BCEL had a minor gain of 50 kip to 5,100 kip at the opened, however finish lower to the unchanged price at the 5,050 kip. For EDL-Gen, LWPC, PTL and SVN had not matched today. The market had small trading volume of 4,200 shares matched, worth around 21 million kip

Market closing day

We would like to notify its market closing days on the occasion of ending the year 2016 and the beginning of the year 2017 as follow:

– 28 – 30 December 2016: Last 3 Business Days
– 02 January 2017: Compensate for New Year’s Day

LSX will resume to normal operation on 03-Jan-2017

 

TK Singers Launch New Music

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Two new singers from TK Soundlao Entertainment Company (TK), Mr Sengchan Sainamper and Ms Somleudy, recently launched new singles.

Mr Sengchan’s new song is called Yarkmikhonkhangkai. It is a love song written by the famous songwriter, Mr Bounthom Ph anthamaly.

It describes a lonely boy who is looking forward to finding a girl to love, as he desperately needs someone by his side to comfort him.

Ms Somleudy’s first single is titled Yasiachaibordaihed, which she sings together with a popular artist from TK- Ms Pookky Ngernlarn.

Her single is written by Sengdala Pakkathong. It describes a girl waiting for a boy, who has made a promise to help her grow chilli plants after the rainy season finishes. However, he doesn’t come as promised, so the girl finds another boy to help her to grow the chilli plants. She tells the first boy, you should not be sad you missed your chance to grow chillies with me because yo u broke your promise.

Mr Sengchan Sainamper is from Huaphan province and is now working in Vientiane. He loves singing and this is his first time working with a large entertainment company.

They are both very happy with the launch of their singles, which are now available on YouTube.

After taking part in the Songfahadao 2 Contest, Mr Sengchan received an invitation to work with TK.

While Ms Somleudy is also a new comer to TK, she already has experience singing Lamsing (a kind of traditional, Lao folk song).

Ms Pookky Ngernlarn is a popular singer with TK and has already produced many albums.

Many of her songs have become popular among music lovers nationwide. She has already cooperated with TK many times, but this is her first time singing together with Ms Somleudy.

Mr Sengchan told Vientiane Times that he is proud to work with TK and very happy about the launch of his first single.

I am very happy and proud t o be singer with TK. I would like to thank the company for giving me a chance. This is my first time officially releasing music. My song is now available on various media channels. I would like to introduce myself and my single to the public and also ask for the support of Lao music lovers. Of course, I will regularly continue to produce new music for them, he said.

Ms Pookky Ngernlarn said that she is very happy cooperate with TK again and to sing a song with Somleudy. She thanked all of her fans for their previous support.

This is my first time singing with Ms S omleudy and I am very happy about it. I am sure music lovers will like this single because it is a joyful song. I would like to thank our listeners for their support of both my previous albums and of my new single with Ms Somleudy. Hopefully, TK will continue to support my work. I will do my best to produce the best music for them, she said.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Phonsavan: Everything You Need to Know

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Phonsavan is the capital of the province of Xieng Khuang in Laos. It has a population of 37,507 and the name Phonsavan roughly translates as ‘Hills of paradise’.  Built during the 1970s, Phonsavan has a picturesque countryside full of green hillsides and forests of pine trees. It replaced Muang Khoun which was ravaged during the Second War of Indochina.

The colourful houses in the villages here are made from wood. The raising of cattle provides livelihoods for many locals in this region. One can often see Hmong cowboys dressed in violet-and-brown attire complete with hats. New Year’s Day here is celebrated with bullfighting.

Phonsavan Attractions

UNESCO has designated the Plain of Jars in Phonsavan a heritage site. It is a popular tourist attraction and receives many visitors every year. The Indochinese war sites such as the Plain of Jars became the “Plain of Scars” during the Indochinese war since it was directly in the middle of the conflict. The site experienced extensive bombing and was also used as the drop-off point for unused artillery after the war.

Xieng Khoung and Huaphan became the most heavily bombed places in the world on per capita basis. The condition was worsened by the intense amounts of herbicides and defoliants dropped here.  These violent events have left indelible scars on the area in the form of craters, empty shells and tanks.  Locals have managed to recycle and remake some of the war shrapnel into products for daily use such as vegetable planting tools, spoons, fencing material, barbeques and pumps.

Many locals used the caves in the surrounding areas as shelters during the days of the war. Some of them were even made into care facilities that looked after war victims and injured soldiers. Others were used to store weapons as well as medicine.

Tham Piu Cave is one of the caves where visitors are allowed to look around and inspect the remains from the war days. It is one of witnesses to unfortunate events that occurred during the ‘Secret War’ as it was called. Around 374 people died due to a bomb that landed at this spot in November 1969. The victims were refugees in this cave. Sadly, their bones still remain inside the cave.

As the second of the two caves which are now open for tourists, the Tham Xang Caves still houses remains of the arsenal, medicines and traces of refugees that lived here during the war. Other than that, this cave is also worth a visit because of its sheer beauty. Ban Ta’s Hmong community maintains the cave and offers guided tours to visitors.

Phonsavan Restaurants
You will find a wide variety of cuisine offered in Phonsavan.  Lao, Chinese and Vietnamese are some of the cuisines found here. Although the size of the town is not too impressive, there are 32 restaurants and plenty of noodle shops also known as Pho-shops.

Craters Bar and Restaurant sells fast food as well as Western dishes such as pizza and burgers. The interior has been designed subtly and with plenty of taste, especially when compared with some of the other joints in Phonsavan.

Nirvana is a restaurant built with bamboo and is located on a street just off the main road. The spot used to be an ancient air strip. Along with the Maly Hotel, it is famous for its Lao and western cuisine.

The local Vietnamese restaurant Simmaly is a popular local restaurant serving Vietnamese food in large quantities and offering excellent customer service.

If you want Indian cuisine served alongside Lao food try Nisha, with its vegetarian and meat dishes at reasonable prices.

Auberge de la Plain des Jarres at the Phoupadeng Hotel is good for French food. The food here has a strong Alsace influence to it. Although the prices are quite high, the food is worth trying.

Phonsavan Nightlife

 

Most locals and tourists drink at restaurants which have bars attached to them however there are a few independent bars such as the one facing Maly Hotel, situated on the banks of a lake.  Tiger beer here is very popular among customers. Fresh fish served here is a common side dish. The disco at Chittavanh Hotel is also frequented by tourists and locals. It serves authentic Cambodian cuisine and if you want something slightly different the Highway Karaoke is an example of Western bars in the city.

Phonsavan Shopping

 

Products that are primarily catered towards tourists include those made by local artisans and textile workers. These items are made from indigenous wood and silk obtained from mulberry worms, using natural colours and local designs. Baskets and paper umbrellas made from mulberry silk can be found at Ban Mixay. Ban Napia has a lot of embroidered work of Hmong origin.

Mastake whiskey is a locally brewed alcohol derived from hed wai, which is a wild mushroom found in the pine forests of Xieng Khuang. It is quite popular among locals and many tourists also take the opportunity to try it. The Chinese Market is located to the west of the main strip of Phonsavan. It is popular for souvenirs along with silver and gold items as well.

Phonsavan Activities


You can visit the SOS Orphanage between 08:00 – 16:00 on weekdays. Established in 1998, this orphanage takes in children who have lost their parents due to some mishap caused by UXO (unexploded ordinance). About 150 children are housed in 12 homes here. There is a pre-school along with a primary school where these kids receive basic education. Feel free to drop in sometime when you are in Xieng Khuang to spend time with them.

If you want a taste of local food go to the fresh food markets to experience products that are indigenous to the forests such as exotic mushrooms, pheasant meat and bamboo rats, and fruits such as plums, passion fruit and peaches.

The Navang Craft Centre is family run and is known for its wooden products mainly made from the rare Long Leng Wood procured from the Fujian Cypress tree. It is excellent for gifts and souvenirs. There are a number of scenic war memorials for soldiers who died in the war of Indochina as well as that of Vietnam.

The Mulberry Silk Farm is a fair trade company that is trying to uphold the ancient tradition of sericulture and is keeping it alive amidst other more commercially viable fabrics in the present world market. The complete process of breeding silk worms and procuring the silk fibre from them is elaborated on at the farm for visitors with a free guide to explain things. Workers use bark, leaves, berries, flowers, vines and seeds to make the colours used to dye the fabric. They try to promote the products as well as meet financial needs by selling souvenirs to tourists.

The interesting thing about the old cemetery up a hilltop located a kilometre away from the city of Phonsavan is the Tai Dam which is right in the middle of the tombstones. These graves are a mix of Chinese, Catholic and Lao Buddhist origin.

How to get to Phonsavan

Flights travel to and from Vientiane four days a week and travel to the Xieng Khuang Airport in Phonsavan. During the holiday season there are six flights via Lao Airlines which can be taken from Hanoi or Vinh in Vietnam. This is reduced to four flights during off season. One can acquire visas on arrival to Phonsavan at the Nam Ka border. If you prefer taking the bus from Vinh it will take you 12 hours to reach Phonsavan. There are VIP and local buses running once a week from Vinh.

 

Source: KPL

Ministry Expected to Reveal Info Soon about Xekaman 3 Tunnel Burst

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The Ministry of Energy and Mines is expected to reveal in the near future details about the penstock rupture incident of the Xekaman 3 hydropower project in Dak Chung in the southern province of Xekong.

The tunnel (sluice gate) that channels water into the powerhouse of the Xekaman 3 hydropower project ruptured in the morning of Dec 16 but no severe damage has been reported.

No security guards who were stationed at the dam were hurt when the incident took place. Only the dormitory of the staff of the Xekaman 3 Power Company Limited and one pickup truck, one SUV and two motorcycles were damaged. The properties belong to the company and its staff.

The initial investigation conducted by relevant officials revealed on Monday that the penstock of the dam, which seemed to have been improperly welt, ruptured when water pressure increased during an emergency switch off. The rupture point was discovered 150 m away from the powerhouse.

The incident didn’t result in damage to the barrage of the dam, according to Mr Phetsamone Khonepasith, Acting Director, Xekong Provincial Department of Energy and Mines.

Investigation into the damage caused by the incident is being conducted by relevant experts.

Built with an investment of US$273 million by the Vietnamese company Song Da, the hydropower power project was just put into operation in 2014.

The project is equipped with an installed generation capacity of 260 mw. The majority of power generated by the power plant is exported to Vietnam.

 

Source: KPL

Poor Vientiane Students to Benefit From Children’s Rights Protection Network

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Poor children in 13 targets schools around Vientiane will benefit from new network protection and increased understanding from the promotion of children’s rights.

The initiative is being undertaken the Dongsavath Children and Youth Development Association (DCYDA) with the support of the World Education Foundation (WEF).

The Association started in 2008 focusing on proving after school activities to emulate a fun environment to discourage students abusing drugs, dropping out and engaging with young people to participate in helping their families and development in the community.

The 4 schools of Dongsavath Primary, Donkoi, Nahay, Oudomphol were originally targeted in 2008 under the network programme.

Head of the DCYDA, Mr Phonexay Inthaleuxay, spoke to Vientiane Times last week after the opening of a workshop in the capital on the protection and promotion of children’s rights.

“Our association was founded trying to help children develop to their full potential and protect them from any harm and we will continue this with the students of 13 schools in Vientiane,” he said.

For 2017-2019, he said DCYDA would continue out of school activities targeting students from Dongsavath Primary, Nahay, Oudomphol, Nongbuathongtai, Danxang, Nongnieng, Chommanytai, Xangleun, Sinak, Ilay, Phiavat, Nakha and Khoksivilay Schools.

The association faced one challenge with the families: violence against women and children is still a common matter. It is seen as a private affair, like in many countries around the world, where the way a parent disciplines his/ her own child falls within the parent’s rights, he said.

“I think our association needs to support these schools to strengthen their capacity in the protection and promotion of children’s rights, including in the local people’s communities around Vientiane,” he added.

He explained they were improving their support for teachers by supplying information to parents of students to reduce dropout rates in target primary schools

because many lacked enough education. A senior official from the Vientiane of Education and Sports Department said there was a need for projects that addressed the protection of children’s rights in the city as well as remote areas.

She said the association gave children the feeling of security and being cared for along with knowledge to help poor children and youth solve their own problems and avoid drug abuse. A large number of poor children in the city faced various problems because they lack education. At present, this network mainly focused on children who are already in school. But it was also crucial to persuade both children and their parents of the importance of a good education, she said.

According to DCYDA, currently, around 20 percent of Lao children are out of school because they live in poor families.

 

 

Source: Vientiane Times

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