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Training Session Held for Grant Proposal Writing

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The Agency Universitaire de la Francophonie has introduced a programme to educate Lao officials on the procedures for writing grant requests to donor organisations.

The second session of capacity building concerning project creation and project management began in Vientiane on Monday, attended by Vice President of the National University of Laos, Professor Lammai Phiphakhavong, and the Technical Expert for French Projects, Mr Gaylord Giordanino.

The purpose of the training is to upgrade skills and knowledge for drafting projects that will successfully obtain donor funding. The training will help the participants improve their hard skills concerning drafting of proposals and communicating with the donors. The four-day training course aims to consolidate the skills and knowledge acquired during the first session held in February. It will also be an opportunity for the participants to meet donor organisations such as the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and the Institute de Recherche et Development.

Awareness of the important role donor projects play in the development of higher education, research, social issues and many other sectors, the Agency Universitaire de la Francophonie provided a practical and contextualised training, which would allow heads of ministries and academic departments to deepen their knowledge of project management. The ultimate goal is that Laos increase its responses to calls for projects by NGOs and other international organisations, thereby boosting the country’s development in all areas.

The officials who joined the training come from the National University of Lao, the University of Health Sciences, Savannakhet University, the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

ASEAN Health Experts Discuss Opthalmology

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Health experts from Laos and ASEAN member countries met in Vientiane on Sunday for the 9th Annual Lao Ophthalmologist Conference to discuss the latest developments in ophthalmology in the efforttoraiseLaos’treatment standards to international levels.

The participants discussed advanced techniques and modern treatment methods in order to bring better vision to their patients.

The meeting was not only an exchange of ideas, but also included the strengthening of assistance programmes between the participating countries, a health official said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Health, associate Prof. Dr Bounkong Syhavong, said such meetings are an important manner for ASEAN member states to develop and build the ASEAN medical community.

He noted, “I would like to express my thanks to all the speakers from ASEAN member countries, organisers,

technical officers and other relevant persons, who devoted their efforts to organising this meeting.”

“We strongly believe the result of this meeting will highly benefit our people by improving ophthalmological services through higher quality of treatment and technical innovation”, he said.

The President of the Lao Ophthalmological Society, Dr Vithoune Visonnavong, said, “We had the opportunity to meet well known ophthalmological experts from many countries around the ASEAN region who are willing to assist us in bettering our treatment programmes”.

“We also wish to invite all national and international organisations who are interested in the field of ophthalmology in ASEAN to join in this important congress,” he continued.

“The convention is not only dedicated to furthering participants’ academic knowledge, but is a centre of opportunity to meet other ophthalmologists from different organisations from ASEAN countries,” he added.

Cataracts are a challenging issue in Laos as many people have difficulty accessing treatment for the disease. Other issues like glaucoma continue to present challenges for doctors because practise standards are not up to par with international levels, making treatment more difficult. Through meetings like the Annual Lao Ophthalmologist Conference, the latest developments and treatments can be shared by global experts with Lao doctors, who can use their new found knowledge to better treat their patients.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Safe Anesthesia Examined at Medical Workshop

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Anesthesiologists from ASEAN member countries and other cooperation partners met in Vientiane recently to review their work in the sector and discuss methods of improving patient care and providing safe anesthetics.

The participants learned how to use different models of anesthetics machines as well as troubleshooting common problems and discussing improvements to patient safety.

The workshop also provided a great opportunity for participants to meet and talk with experts in the field from Laos, Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korean and France, including anesthesiologists and also their anesthesia equipment as well as biomedical engineers.

The workshop was supported by the Anesthesia Fellowship at the Bangkok Anesthesia Regional Training Centre (BARTC).

President of the Lao Society of Anesthesiologists Association, Associate Prof. Dr Oukham Phanthaly spoke to Vientiane Timeson Saturday after the 3rd annual workshop entitled improvement of quality in emergency medical services (EMS).

He said the workshop stressed the importance of anesthesiologists in regard to the provision of emergency medical services before, during and after surgery.

Dr Oukham explained that anesthesiology is the practice of medicine dedicated to the total care of the patient before, during and after surgery. Anesthesiologists are also experts in resuscitation, pain management and intensive care.

The aim of this workshop was to present the strategic approaches for the improvement of quality in emergency medical services (EMS) before and after surgery because EMS is integrated within the health care system and anesthetists are obliged to respond to medical emergencies, he said

The workshop aimed to teach the participants various aspects of anesthesia machine basics and safety features, how to identify equipment problems, locating the cause and determining workable solutions, including the changing experiences of patients.

Anesthesiologists from Laos and ASEAN member countries as well as partner countries reported the progress of their activities for many sub-working groups to work on anesthesia in intra-abdominal trauma, the common airway problems in pediatric anesthesia, ethics and research for anesthesiologists.

Also examined were approaches for patients who are on antithrombotic agents, anesthesia for morbid obesity , techniques in inhalation anesthesia, minimising blood loss in liver surgery, neuro-anesthesia for non-neuroanesthesiologists and anesthesia for obstetric bleeding patients.

Fellowships and other grants are on offer to young anesthesiologists, aiming to strengthen the international capacity to deliver safe anesthesia and effective pain relief.

The fellowship also aims to develop and make available quality educational materials for anesthesiologists.

According to the Lao Society of Anesthesiologists Association, in 1996, Laos had only three anesthesiologists. Currently, there are more than 80 anesthesiologists in Laos.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

 

Government Mulls Savings in Staging Visit Laos Year

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Minimising the government’s financial burden when organising a national tourism event was the main topic Japanese tourism experts shared with Lao colleagues at a meeting last week.

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism held the workshop in Vientiane province to share experiences with Japanese experts as the country prepares to organise Visit Laos Year in 2018.

At the meeting, senior Japanese tourism expert, Mr Moriyama Akira, pointed out the government’s role in giving guidance and developing policy when organising a national tourism event while getting the private sector to take ownership, so it will fund the activities.

An official from the ministry’s Tourism Marketing Department, Mr Anousone Duangsovath, said the Japanese expert also noted even high level government officials had to get involved, such as the prime minister ,holding a press conference to highlight the tourism event.

Moreover, he said referring to the Japanese experience, aside from getting businesses to sign on for the event secretariat, the government had to persuade them of the benefits to be received by participating.

Building awareness among the general public was another important component for the successful organisation of such an event, according to Mr Anousone, who referred to the experience of Japan, which successfully arranged its tourism year in 2003.

The nation previously organised Visit Laos Years in 1999-2000 and 2012, but the two events were not organised very effectively, according to the Lao tourism official.

Tourism is the second highest ranked sector in generating income for the nation. The number of foreign visitors to the country has continually increased over the past 15 years. Tourist arrivals were around 727,000 in 2000, which generated US$113 million for the nation, while the number of arrivals reached 4.6 million last year, generating US$725 million.

Tourism has directly and indirectly attracted investment to the country for the operation of hospitality businesses, along with infrastructure development, including roads and air ports.

The country expects to receive at least 6.8 million foreign guests in 2020, and earn around US$1 billion in revenue.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

LWU Improving Women’s and Children’s Status

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The Lao Women’s Union (LWU) member committee has continually improved women’s standing in various fields including law, female worker protection, as well as promoted gender equality and children’s rights.

That was the message at the opening of the LWU’s annual meeting yesterday in Vientiane, running from December 12-14 with the President of the Lao Women’s Union, Dr Inlavan Keobounphanh, along with members from across the nation, in attendance.

The LWU will cooperate with their development partners to manage female and child workers at many workplaces, such as restaurants and entertainment venues, while looking to help victims of human trafficking.

As well, they will continue to improve the lives and support women and children in every local community, the meeting heard.

During the three-day conference, participants are discussing women’s development plans for 2016-2020, with a focus on eight main development programmes to promote gender rights.

These programmes include human resource development for females, strengthening the women’s union, promoting vocations and businesses for women, protecting women and children’s rights, as well as promoting female progress and gender equality rights.

Vice President of the Lao Women’s Union, Ms Bundith Prathoumvanh, highlighted the union’s many achievements in 2015-2016 including women’s and children’s rights protection, the promotion of women’s progress and gender equality, and the fight to stop violence against women.

In 2015-2016, the LWU member committee has stood up to violence against women and children, with some 40 victims receiving assistance.

Others achievements include supporting child protection in target provinces such as Luang Namtha, Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, Champassak and Savannakhet, with more than 1,000 children receiving benefits from the programme.

In the capital, LWU monitored and helped women and children who had become victims of human trafficking, while also opening a free healthcare consultation service for women and young people via the 136 and 137 hotlines.

The Vientiane LWU member committee also supported reproductive health activities and provided facilities for workers in local factories.

The union has helped Lao women make development progress in terms of education and vocational skills, as well as promoting their rights and protecting benefits.

Women also made significant contributions towards the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, according to the LWU.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Japanese Project Furthers Wood Processing in Laos

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A project for developing human resources in the wood processing industry has achieved success, helping to improve the quality of wood products and provide new marketing tools for Laos.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s Industry and Handicrafts Department and the Okawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday organised a final workshop to summarise the project, which ran over a period of two years.

The cooperation project was funded by Okawa City in Japan through the Okawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry at a cost of US$600,000.

The project began in 2015 and will end next year, aiming to develop human resources in the wood processing industry.

Human resource development was important in all areas of work as it was key to development, and especially this project, officials noted, which was enabling the efficient use of raw materials and improved production standards. The government considers human resource development as an important issue especially in the wood processing industry and forest management.

It is in line with Prime Ministerial Order No. 15, which aims to ensure the effective management and use of timber through the processing and adding of value to products before their export.

The project has provided wood processing training on eight occasions and furniture processing training on seven occasions.

Those to undergo the training included Lao carpenters and teachers from different furniture manufacturers, sawmills and vocational schools, under the supervision of Japanese carpenters, according to the press release.

The project also held wood and furniture processing training in Japan, especially in Okawa City, and selected two carpenters to participate in the ASEAN labour contest in Malaysia.

The course helped improve participants’ skills and increased their labour knowledge in the wood and furniture processing industry to add more value to the projects produced.

Participants also increased their understanding about how to maintain and use wood machines, wood and furniture processing techniques, colour painting, transportation and exhibitions.

Despite the project period being short, it still helped develop Lao skills in the furniture and wood processing industry according to Industry and Handicrafts Department Director General, Mr Manohak Rasachack .

The workshop was co-chaired by the Director of the Okawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Yuichiro Tsumura.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Vientiane to Increase Water Charges by Four Percent

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Vientiane Water Supply Enterprise (Nampapa Nakhon Luang) has announced it will increase water supply charges by four percent across all categories coming into effect this January.

The enterprise issued an announcement recently that requires households to pay in line with four rates – the more water is consumed the higher the rate households are required to pay.

Under the new rate, those households using not more than 10 cubic metres of water per month will have to pay 1,434 kip per cubic metre, an increase from the current 1,379 kip per cubic metre. Households consuming 11-30 cubic metres per month are required to pay 1,989 kip per cubic metre, an increase from 1,910 kip per cubic metre.

The consumption of between 31-50 cubic metres of water a month will require the payment of 2,538 kip per cubic metre, while those households using 51 cubic metres or more per month will pay 3,089 kip per cubic metre.

State organisations, foreign embassies and international organisations in Laos are required to pay only one rate regardless of the amount used. They are required to pay 2,538 kip per cubic metre, an increase from the current 2,440 kip.

Commercial use by businesses, such as hotels and restaurants, is also under one rate, which is the highest among all categories at 3,089 kip per cubic metre.

A technical official of Vientiane Water Supply Enterprise told Vientiane Times yesterday the increase in water charges was not implemented every year. She added that for many years before 2016 the fee had not been adjusted .

An official of the Water Supply Department under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said adjustments to water supply fees in different provinces would be considered and approved on a case-by-case basis following proposals from water supply enterprises in a province via the provincial authorities.

He explained the enterprise was required to submit a proposal to provincial authorities to consider before forwarding the proposal to his department to make recommendations if the proposed increase was appropriate and reasonable.

“If the proposed increase is too high, we will recommend lowering it [the proposed increase fee] to avoid adverse impacts on people’s living conditions,” the official said.

He added that the water supply is on the list of 48 controlled products whose fee adjustments needed to be approved by the relevant state sector before it could be increased to avoid a severe impact on people’s cost of living.

While water charges are on the increase, Electricite Du Lao (EDL), recently lowered its power fees for households.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

China Proposes Weight Limit Increase for Heavy Vehicles

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Oudomxay province: — China has asked Laos to consider increasing the allowable weight limit for heavy trucks on the nation’s rods, with large numbers of Chinese trucks operating, especially in the northern provinces.

Currently, a weight limit of 11 tonnes per axle is imposed throughout the country and Chinese goods transporters would like to see this increased to allow larger trucks to operate in Laos.

Director of Oudomxay provincial and Industry and Commerce Department, Mr Khamphao Sylisouk, told the press on Saturday that representatives from China raised this matter at a meeting of the northern provincial industry and commerce sectors on December 8, which was hosted by Luang Namtha province.

In that meeting, a representative of the northern provincial industry and commerce department answered that the roads in Laos could not withstand loads of more than 11 tonnes per axle, Mr Khamphao said.

The roads in Laos are quite small in the northern parts of the country, so if the trucks carrying loads of more than 11 tonnes per axle are allowed to operate, it is expected the roads will quickly start to deteriorate.

Despite the ban, some larger trucks are operating anyway. Some 12-wheeled trucks are known to be carrying loads of up to 20 or 30 tonnes per axle between Laos and China.

“We did not allow them but goods truck operators take it upon themselves to exceed the 11 tonnes per axle,” Mr Khamphao said.

Nowadays, there are about 26 weigh stations across the country, but previously there were many more.

Right now about 400 cars and heavy trucks from Laos, China and other countries are crossing at the Boten International Checkpoint in Luang Namtha province. Weigh stations are important for controlling overloaded trucks, but not all national roads around the country have them, with only some operational.

The government closed some of the weigh stations in 2011, and since then many roads have been damaged due to the proliferation of heavy vehicles.

In order to protect the nation’s roads, repairs should begin as soon as the first cracks in the surface appear because they rapidly deteriorate in the rainy season, especially in areas that are heavily used by trucks.

The capital Vientiane has four weigh stations located around the city at Chaengsavang village on Road No. 13 North, Khoksa-aath village on Road No. 13 South, Dongphosy village at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and at Nongda village on National Road No. 11.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

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