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Mental Health Expert Calls for more Support for Sufferers

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Mental health experts in Laos believe the use of so-called psychological first aid is the best way to prevent an increase in the number of mental health patients.

The majority of Lao people with mental health issues do not have access to treatment and other basic health services because Laos lacks trained personnel in this field.

Programme Manager Dr Chantharavady Choulamany of Basic Needs, an international NGO focused on mental health issues, spoke to Vientiane Times last week at a press conference to mark World Mental Health Day.

She said “We urgently need to implement the concept of psychological first aid in Laos.”

She claims efforts in support of the day will focus on basic, pragmatic psychological support by people who find themselves in an assisting role, whether they be health staff, teachers, community workers or police officers.

“Despite its name, psychological first aid covers both psychological and social support. Just like general health care never consists of physical first aid alone, similarly, no mental health care system should consist of psychological first aid alone,” she said.

“Indeed, the investment in psychological first aid is part of a longer-term effort to ensure that anyone in acute distress due to a crisis in mental health is able to receive basic  support. Moreover, those who are in need of more than psychological first aid will receive additional, advanced support from health care and social services,” she added.

Dr Chantharavady explained that practitioners in Vientiane have more of an understanding about mental health treatment in their communities. This means they can better ascertain the mental and physical health of their patients in comparison to rural areas.

Thousands of people with mental health conditions around the world are deprived of their human rights. They are not only discriminated against, stigmatised and marginalised but are also subject to emotional and physical abuse in both mental health facilities and the community at large.

Poor quality care due to a lack of qualified health professionals and dilapidated facilities leads to further violations.

According to Basic Needs, there are over 70,000 people in Vientiane with reported mental health issues. At the same time, only about 29,000 people with mental health issues have access to treatment and health services because Laos lacks both human and financial resources in the field of mental health.

This year, the WHO will be raising awareness of what can be done to ensure that people with mental health conditions can continue to live with dignity, through human rights oriented policy and law, training of health care professionals, respect for informed consent to treatment, inclusion in decision-making processes, and public information campaigns.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Trillions of Kip in Earnings Go Unreported by Govt Bodies

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Trillions of kip have been lost due to the continued violation of financial regulations by ministries, government agencies, and state enterprises.

These include losses due to tax discounts and exemptions on the import and export of goods, the illegal transfer of state property, and other financial transactions.

The losses were outlined in a report introduced on Friday by the President of the State Audit Organisation (SAO) Dr

Viengthong Siphandone at the National Assembly’s ongoing debate session.

The SAO has audited the financial records of 12 ministries and government agencies, 12 departments, 16 provinces and Vientiane, and three units under the National Treasury for the fiscal year 2014-15.

More than 2.4 trillion kip was found to have been lost due to tax exemptions, tax discounts, and exemptions and discounts on special levies on the import and export of fuel, vehicles and timber.

This sum accounted for 46.4 percent of total revenue by the customs sector and was thought to amount to as much as 5.8 trillion kip.

Tax exemptions were made for certain projects, enterprises, and individuals as authorised by the government, ministries, provinces, the capital, districts, and special economic zones.

In the taxation sector, audits also found that 98.2 billion kip earned from labour status improvement, 74 billion kip in service fees, and about 1.4 billion kip made from the sale of desirable vehicle registration numbers had not been passed on to the state budget.

In addition, more than 800 billion kip received in taxes, state property, government funds and from other deals amassed by ministries, provinces and the capital had not found its way to the Ministry of Finance in the form of state revenue as required under Article 6 of the Law on State Budget.

Instead, the money had been used to finance investment projects, kept in cash, deposited  in bank accounts, or given as loans to the private sector.

More than 317 billion kip was found to have been acquired from the transfer of state property to the capital. Of this amount, more than 276 billion kip was related to activities undertaken by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, 34.4 billion kip was related to deals made by the Ministry of Education and Sports, and 6.4 billion kip was related to transactions carried out by the Ministry of Finance.

“This money was not recorded as revenue in the  2014-15 fiscal year. Deals were not undertaken in compliance with the decree on bidding and procurement, while project implementation did not follow the assessment procedure as stipulated in the Law on State Investment,” the report stated.

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Education and Sports were also involved in the transfer to individuals of 91 plots of land with a combined area of more than 37,000 sq. metres, in transactions that did not follow authorised procedures.

Six other ministries were found to have opened 159 bank  accounts that had balances amounting to 367.7 billion kip at the end of the 2014-15 fiscal year.

In its report, the SAO said these issues were awaiting resolution. Furthermore, the Central National Treasury could not provide records for 2.9 trillion kip it had released for the payment of discounted debts and the issuing of bonds.

The audit also found that the Ministry of Finance’s Budget Department had not coordinated with the National Treasury in summarising payments.

The audit also turned up more than 156 billion kip that had been earned from the sale of timber in six provinces, but was not recorded.

Some provinces had included the money earned from the authorised sale of timber, confiscated timber, and fines in provincial financial development reserves with the amount determined between them. This resulted in a loss of revenue from the sale of timber, violating the Law on State Budget.

More than 441 billion kip was found to have been earned from the sale of timber, fees charged to other airlines to use Lao air space, and the sale and transfer of state assets, which again had not been recorded.

The National Assembly approved a total revenue target of 26.1 trillion kip for the year 2014-15, of which 25.3 trillion kip was accrued.

In total, audits of 44 budgetary units found 814.4 billion kip in unrecorded revenue.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Child Fund Australia Supports Children in Xieng Khuang

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Child Fund Australia has provided more than US$1.1 million to support development outcomes relating to health, education, water, sanitation and nutrition for children in Khoun district, Xieng Khuang province.

Funds will also go to support the continued need for improvements in education access and quality, targeting the poorest in the target district’s nine villages.

The representative office of Child Fund Australia, Child Fund Laos, will work in partnership with the Rural Development and Poverty Eradication office in Xieng Khuang province to begin a new project named Community Development for the Well-Being of Children in Khoun district.

The project will work to reduce poverty through addressing development gaps, building capacities, and taking a multi-sector, holistic development approach.

Reaching some of the poorer areas within Khoun district, the project will be implemented by the communities themselves within nine villages with extensive consultation with district and provincial authorities. It is expected to run for four years, with an end date of September 2020.

The main purpose of the project is to ensure that partner communities are able to sustain project activities and to reduce their reliance on external inputs while increasing their resilience in daily life.

The project will be implemented with close community oversight and participation so that community members have the chance to work alongside local authorities, partners and Child Fund Laos staff to strengthen their capacity in identifying, planning and managing their own activities in the future.

Management of project activities will be handed over, with close monitoring and support to district and village representatives in partner villages that reach a 12-year partnership term with Child Fund Laos.

All Community Development for the Well-Being of Children in Khoun District activities are in line with the 5th National Socio-Economic Development Plan, Laos’ Sustainable Development Goals commitments, Laos’ least developed country graduation targets for 2020 and existing district development priorities.

Activities will focus on sustainable community development through an integrated development approach focusing on improving the lives of children.

Child Fund Laos will start to implement the project in Khoun district after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday, inked by Programme Manager of Child Fund Laos, Dr Emelita Santos Goddard and Director General of the Xieng Khuang provincial Rural Development and Poverty Eradication office, Mr. Yong Tia Lor.

Australia’s Ambassador to Laos John Williams and Deputy Governor of Xieng Khuang province, Mr. Khamsane Manivong, were witnesses at the ceremony.

According to Child Fund Laos, it is anticipated that the project will have more impact in Khoun district, particularly in reaching poorer areas, a key priority of the district’s socio-economic development plan. This is also a focus of the Child Fund Australia Laos country strategic plan.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Bokeo Airport Upgrade Likely to Be Delayed

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Much-needed improvements to Bokeo airport may have to wait a few years more because the government cannot afford to pay for the upgrade of this provincial facility.

Minister of Public Works and Transport Dr Bounchan Sinthavong last week informed Assembly members of the situation when speaking at the National Assembly’s ongoing debate session.

Plans for the reconstruction of the airstrip have been made and the project is awaiting approval from Bokeo province and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, after which the plan will be submitted to the government.

It’s expected that the plan to upgrade the airport will be added to a list of government projects for 2018. But the government currently has no money to spend on the expansion, Dr Bounchan said.

At present, only small aircraft operated by Lao Sky way can land at Bokeo airport. Seventy-seater ATR aircraft previously landed there but these flights stopped last year because of the poor condition of the landing fi eld.

Most people flying to Bokeo from Vientiane are Lao. There is much greater demand for flights in the other direction – from Bokeo to Vientiane.

This is usually because, having made the long journey north by road, which takes 23-24 hours, people don’t want to have to make the return journey through yet more hairpin bends and steep downhill gradients, especially as it is unpleasant for anyone who gets travel sick.

In contrast, the flight from Bokeo to Vientiane takes just 50 minutes.

Bokeo province is now trying to make more accommodation available for foreign guests travelling between Thailand and Southern China via Route R3.

The construction of more hotels, guesthouses and restaurants is anticipated to cater for the anticipated increase in visitors after the opening of a new Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge a few years ago, which further opens up the area to travellers.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

City Authorities Ready for That Luang Celebrations

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Vientiane authorities are preparing many activities for the 450th anniversary celebrations of the national icon, the That Luang stupa, next month with its restoration set to be complete on time.

A meeting to discuss preparations for the stupa’s 450th anniversary celebrations took place in the capital on Friday and was attended by Vientiane Mayor Dr Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara, other officials, monks and novices.

Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara said this year’s celebrations were very important as they mark a historic milestone – the 450th anniversary of the That Luang stupa’s construction.

The organising committee said the celebrations would be held during the That Luang Festival with many activities and the night fair running from November 12-14. The activities include the wax castle procession, to include 450 of the colourful structures, as well as the traditional game of tikhy (similar to hockey) between the country’s leaders and officials.

However, the highlight will be the completion of the That Luang stupa restoration project with the project committee confirming that repairs to the stupa would be completed ahead of the festival.

The restoration involves work to improve the main structure, paintwork, surrounding garden, drainage channels, electrical system and other features, notably the gold leaf to be placed on the top of the stupa.

This morning Vientiane authorities started to place more than 10 kilogrammes of gold leaf on the central spire.

During the That Luang Festival large numbers of local folk and visitors can be seen carrying silver bowls with flowers, candles and incense walking towards the That Luang esplanade to pay homage to the grand golden stupa and the sacred artefacts that surround it.

There will also be a street fair, along with performances by Lao artists and traditional dance shows.

One of the main rituals is for people to give offerings around the That Luang Stupa on the last day of the festival.

The stupa was originally built during the ancient Khmer civilisation, when Vientiane was inhabited by people known as the Cham. Researchers believe the structure was originally a four-sided stone obelisk.

The site was built as a place for people to worship and pray to idols.

The structure was renovated on the orders of King Xay setthathirath in the 16th century when the original site was covered with a bigger stupa. From then on the monument took the name That Luang, or Grand Stupa.

The Cham period saw the second wave of Buddhism in Laos. Under the patronage of Emperor Ashokka of India, the venerable monks Sona and Outala and five scholars brought what believers understand to be pieces of the pelvic bone of Lord Buddha to Vientiane in the Buddhist calendar year 218 (BCE), when they were stored at Phou Luang hill.

The ruler of Vientiane at that time, Lord Chanthabouly Phasitthisack, had a stupa built over the obelisk in 236 BCE. The sacred site was then named Pha Chedi Lokachulamany.

According to the legend of the That Phanom Stupa, also known as Tamnan Oulangkhathat, Emperor Ashokka authorised the relics to be placed inside the That Luang stupa in Vientiane.

The same legend claims that the remains of Lord Buddha were distributed to all corners of the globe where there were Buddhist followers and his ashes were placed inside 84,000 stupas. This number corresponds to the 84,000 points that believers are required to study in the tripitaka (Buddhist scriptures).

 

Source: Vientiane Times

BCEL-KT: Trade Summary (Oct 28, 2016)

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LSX traded positively on Friday, rising 8.18 points to close at 995.21 points, with 6,400 shares traded (about 21.4 million kip in terms of trading value). EDL-Gen edged up 50 kip at 4,900 kip with a handful of shares traded, while BCEL stayed still at 5,200 kip with the exchange of 1,500 shares. PTL saw 4,000 shares changed hands at the stable price of 2,300 kip. In the meantime, LWPC and SVN closed unchanged at 6,100 kip and 3,000 kip respectively, with no trading.

Ford Motor Company, Hospitality Training Institute Assist Primary School

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Ford Motor Company and Lao Ford City are collaborating with the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (Lanith) to hold a community development activity at Thintom Primary School under the title Ford Global Caring Month.

The activity will be held on November 5 in Hadxaifong district, Vientiane, led by Lao Ford City Sales and Operations Manager, Mr. Chakkaphonh Malabandith, and Director of Lanith, Ms Sayavath Chasane.

Mr Chakkaphonh Malabandith said Lao Ford City received US$4,000 from their parent company towards the outreach programme. The company has initiated a corporate social responsibility campaign to assist with social and environmental issues.

This is not the first time Ford has reached out to the community at large. In 2013, the company built two classrooms at a primary school in Sor village, Sangthong district, Vientiane.

The following year, the company provided a financial grant to procure training equipment for the Rescue Foundation, worth US$20,000 in total. In 2015, Lao Ford City awarded scholarships worth another US$20,000 to students at the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality.

In their upcoming community development initiative, a donation of educational materials and sports equipment will take place in support of the students at Thintom Primary School. Staff from Lao Ford City and Lanith will also paint classrooms and interact with the children.

Source: Vientiane Times

NUOL Staff, Students Missing Out on Japanese Scholarships

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Teachers and students at the National University of Laos (NUOL) have a low rate of application to scholarship programmes offered by the Embassy of Japan due to a lack of knowledge concerning the application process.

Overall, the number of teacher and student participants has declined over the years.

According to the NUOL, on average 20 recipients a year travel to Japan to pursue the various programmes on offer, but recently that number has sometimes fallen to as low as nine.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony for the Study in Japan Fair, NUOL Vice President Associate Prof. Dr Houngphet Chanthavong told attendees he hopes that number will increase by next year.

He elaborated on the long history of cooperation in the field of education between Japanese and Lao institutions, which include exchange programmes, research collaborations, visiting lecturers and other initiatives.

The fair is designed to provide students and educators from Laos with correct, up-to-date information about Japanese higher education and research institutions in order to help candidates select an appropriate school and successfully lodge their applications.

An official from the Embassy of Japan said this year many different subjects are open to Lao applicants, including business, science and Japanese language.

He emphasised the importance of language programmes in developing human resources as a bridge for future cooperation between the two countries but also added that no matter what subject Lao participants choose to pursue, the transfer of specialised knowledge will be indispensable in helping Laos’ overall progress.

By attending the fair, students will have assistance in gaining access to these programmes and advice on following the correct protocol to make a successful application.

Source: Vientiane Times

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