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HIV/AIDS Infections Increasing in Laos

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The number of new Lao HIV-contracted cases annually is trending upwards because at risk groups are having unsafe sex and receiving treatment too late, National Committee to Combat HIV/AIDS (NCCA) reported yesterday.

Currently, there are some 11,500 people living with HIV in Laos with another 1,000 new cases each year, NCCA noted at its meeting in the capital.

According to the NCCA, risk groups include sex workers, drug users who share syringes, MSM (man who have sex with men) and local and foreign migrants.

Minister of Health and NCCA President, Associate Prof. Dr Bounkong Syhavong told the meeting HIV/AIDS was spreading in the country because the number of migrant workers both local and foreign is increasing and some groups are practicing unsafe sex.

He added the rate of HIV/AIDS contraction was still high because these target groups can’t access health services, while prevention campaigns were still lacking in remote areas.

At the meeting the NCCA asked government officials and international organisations for more cooperation to combat the problem.

The cooperation of all parties is needed to determine those most vulnerable to the disease and how to provide them with the knowledge to protect themselves. In the near future, the NCCA intends to expand its research on risk groups to include communities in remote areas of the country.

NCCA plans to eliminate HIV/AIDS within Laos by 2030 and is continuing its efforts to provide treatment for people living with HIV to stop the disease spreading to others by upgrading awareness raising and expanding prevention activities to rural areas.

However, Laos is facing various challenges to address the problem including difficultly locating risk groups, some partners having unsafe sex and the number of entertainment venues is increasing.

Unsafe migration and discrimination against people with HIV are also challenges while some risk groups come to receive treatment too late.

Ministry of Health and development partners recently launched the Integrated Development Project for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Phonthong district, Champassak province to prevent the risk of human exploitation and trafficking and risk of sexually contracted infections.

The risks include those of abuse, drugs, human exploitation and trafficking and sexually contracted infections. All of these risks have the potential to damage lives, so the project is focused on their prevention.

This project focuses on awareness raising, vocational training, leadership and community development in order to promote a more protective environment, which helps prevent unsafe migration and its risks.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

DPM Calls for Joint Efforts to End Violence against Women

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With a number of women continuing to suffer violence, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone has called for joint efforts from all walks of life to put an end to violence against women.

Delivering a message on Tuesday to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women that falls on November 25, the DPM described the violence against women as unacceptable’.

A survey on women’s health conducted in 2014 showed that one in three married women suffered at least one kind of violence. Seven percent experienced sexual violence from husbands or partners and 12 percent suffered physical violence.

A number of Lao girls suffered sexual violence. A survey on child violence conducted previously found that 94 of 1,000 births were delivered by girls aged between 10-19 years, which is the highest numbers of young girls delivering births compared to countries in the region. Five percent of these girls did not want to have sex before 18 years, according to Dr Sonexay.

Globally, one in every three women or about 35 percent of women and girls experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly by their husbands or partners. More than 700 million women have been forced to marry when they were young, the DPM said, citing statistics.

Worse, as many as seven in 10 women are suffering sexual violence in some countries.

Dr Sonexay stated that violence against women has been caused by discrimination against women, uncivilised and outdated traditions, superstition, poor education and gender views among others.

The occurring violence has caused physical and spiritual impacts on women, depriving them from participating in the development process, he said.

The violence against women has brought negative impacts on socio-economic development. It is an enormous obstacle for gender equality.

In a move to address the issue, the UN General Assembly adopted in 1979 the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to which 189 countries have been state parties to the convention that came into force in 1981. A number of action plans have been undertaken to protect the rights and interests of women and girls.

I n Laos, a policy has been implemented to promote and develop women and girls in an attempt to ensure they enjoy equal rights politically, economically, socially and culturally as men and boys do and ensure that their interests are protected, Dr Sonexay said.

In an effort to put an end to the remaining violence against women and girls in the country, Dr Sonexay called for all sectors in society to intensify the campaign and awareness-raising to change outdated traditions, discriminatory attitudes and view s toward women.

He pressed the need to provide necessary assistance to victims of violence, ensure women have access to education and training, employment and services, while carrying out activities and enforcing laws to eliminate any violence against women and children.

Increasing regional and international cooperation in the fight to eliminate all forms of domestic violence will also contribute to addressing the issue.

Source: Vientiane Times

Vietnamese Leader Arrives Today

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Nguyen PhuTrong, is scheduled to arrive in Vientiane today for a three-day state visit to Laos from November 24-26 at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Bounnhang Vorachit.

During the visit, a number of important issues will be discussed while several agreements are expected to be signed.

This reciprocal visit comes after Mr Bounnhang, Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, made his first overseas trip to Vietnam in April shortly after his election as state leader that month. In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency recently, Head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s Committee for External Relations, Ms Sounthone Sayachak, hailed the significance of the visit to Laos by General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong, which is his first overseas trip following his re-election as Party General Secretary in January 2016, the Vietnam News reported on Tuesday.

She expressed her belief that the visit by the Vietnamese Party chief will elevate Vietnam-Laos amity, solidarity, and collaboration to new heights.

General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong was born on April 14, 1944, in Hanoi. He is a literature-linguistics graduate, holds the title of Professor, and has a PhD in Politics with high-level political theory.

He was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam on December 19, 1967. From 1983-1989, he was Deputy Head of the Party Building Department. Mr Nguyen PhuTrong was Editor-in-Chief of the Communist Review from 1991 to 1996.

From 1996-1998, he was Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee. From 2000-2006, he was Secretary of the Party Committee of Hanoi. Mr Nguyen PhuTrong was a Permanent Member of the Party Politburo from 1999-2001.

From 2006-2011, he was President of the National Assembly of Vietnam (11th and 12th tenures). On January 19, 2011, Mr Nguyen PhuTrong was elected Party General Secretary and has held the post until today.

Source: Vientiane Times

ASEAN Officials Discuss Cooperation on Labour Practices

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ASEAN labour officials are meeting over two days in Vientiane to update progress, share experiences and seek ways for future cooperation on labour practices.

The ninth meeting of Senior Labour Officials Meeting’s Working Group (9th SLOM-WG), on progressive labour practices to enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN, will conclude today an

Source: Vientiane Times

d is being attended by Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Bounkhong Lasoukan, Director General of the Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Phongxaysack Inthalath, and senior labour officials from ASEAN countries .

The government of Laos highly values the importance of the SLOM-WG meeting because it is a venue for ASEAN officials to update each other on the progress of labour practices, share experiences and seek ways for further cooperation, MrBounkhongLasoukan told the meeting yesterday.

He said its main purpose was for senior labour officials to update themselves on completed and planned projects over the year since the 8th SLOM-WG Meeting to enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN.

The meeting is also significant for Laos as it will hand over the chairmanship role of SLOM-WG to Myanmar.

At this year’s ASEANLabour Ministerial Meeting, the International LabourOrganisation (ILO) selected Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion as the thematic topic, MrBounkhong mentioned.

This shows the commitment from ASEAN Members States to implement the ILO Recommendation 204 for the transition from the informal to formal economy. In this connection, ASEAN leaders have adopted the Vientiane Declaration on the Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN’, he added.

Apart from that, this is the first year for implementing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal No. 8 which promotes Decent Work and Economic Growth and this goal calls for a focus on vulnerable groups and addressing inequality. In this regard, world leaders, including ASEAN leaders have made commitments to promote inclusive and sustainable growth and decent work for all.

Beside our efforts to enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN, we are facing a number of challenges. One ILO study finds that about 179 million workers in ASEAN are in poor quality jobs and vulnerable employment – meaning that they have informal working arrangements, inadequate social protection and poor working conditions. That’s why close and active cooperation from all of us is very essential to tackle the problem, Mr Bounkhong explained.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

BCEL-KT: Trade Summary (Nov 23, 2016)

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Trade Summary

After the significant exchange of institutional investors yesterday, today Lao securities exchange trended in modest volume. The index was down by 0.04 % to close at 1,015.10 points with 11,500 shares matched for the turnover of 58 million kip. The electricity shares today traded at 5,000 kip, with the total trading volume of 11,500 shares, while LWPC lost 100 kip due to the technical adjustment. In the meantime, other stocks saw no matching, with BCEL closing at 5,150 kip, PTL at 2,500 kip and SVN at 3,000 kip.

BCEL-KT: Trade Summary (Nov 22, 2016)

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Trade Summary

On Tuesday, Lao Securities Exchange reported tremendous trading volume of 8,924,800 shares, worth more than 44,445 million kip, while the index edged up by 1.64 % to 1,015.48 points. After being serene for so long time, EDL-Gen has given market stimulation with 8,922,200 shares; the price of the electricity stock went up 100 kip to close at 5,000 kip. In addition, BCEL and PTL contributed in the market volume for 2,200 and 400 shares, closed at 5,150 kip, 2,500 kip respectively. However, LWPC and SVN closed unchanged without trading volume.

Doctors’ Training Course Boosts Health Prospects for Newborns

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Paediatric experts need to learn more about infectious diseases, hematology, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease and neurology if they are to improve the health of newborns and children.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Second Paediatrician Training on Monday, President of the Paediatrics Association of Laos, Associate Prof. Dr Khampe Phongsavath, said it is necessary to provide more training for paediatricians if they are to save the lives of more children.

Deputy Director of the Children’s Hospital, Dr Somxay Billamay, said he hoped the training would help to improve the skills of the 38 paediatricians attending the one-day session.

Topics covered included accurate diagnosis, cardiology, infection, parasitological diseases, nephrology, neonatology, hematology, allergies and respiratory conditions, radiology, emergency medicine, pathology, gastrointestinal problems, nutrition and obstetrics.

An official from the Department of Pathology at Kyungpook National University in the Republic of Korea, Prof. Yong-Jin Kim, also attended the event.

The I-HOPE project run by the Korea International Cooperation Agency supported the training course.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Road Users Call for End to Tolls in Champassak

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Business operators in Champassak province have called on the provincial government to close down the toll booths located on Road No. 16 but so far their calls have gone unheeded.

Instead, the provincial government has offered to close police and customs checkpoints in a bid to remove some of the red tape.

Local people don’t like the tolls being charged at two points along Road No. 16 from the Laos-Japan Mekong Bridge to the Vangtao-Chongmek border crossing between Laos and Thailand.

They view the tolls as overly expensive and want the government to cancel them.

One local resident told Vientiane Times on Monday that this route is being used to transport agricultural products to Thailand but that vehicles are being burdened by the tolls.

Business operators are displeased with these road tolls because their 10-wheel vehicles carrying agricultural products are paying 300,000 to 400-000 kip for a round trip, she said.

Now transporters are struggling to find other routes to avoid using Road No. 16 to deliver their products to Thailand.

Head of the provincial Administration Office, Mr Onkeo Phetphoumy, said that based on the provincial Standing Committee’s ordinary meeting in October, it was announced that checks on motorists on roads within the province would be cancelled.

The reason given was that the province needed to provide good public transport facilities to enable the shipment of agricultural products to neighbouring countries.

But provincial authorities want to eliminate complaints by business operators about the fact that there are two or three different checkpoints used by police and customs officers in the district.

Minister of Public Works and Transport, Dr Bounchan Sinthavong, answered questions at the National Assembly’s debate session which ended last week concerning the Champassak road tolls.

Laos’ small population means that road tolls are higher than in countries with a larger population in order to collect sufficient funds to pay the cost of construction and maintenance.

Road No. 16 runs for a distance of 40 kilometres and crosses into Thailand. The company responsible for building the road, Duangdy Bridge-Road Construction Company, calculated the toll at 500 kip per kilometre.

If the toll on this road is reduced, the company will lose their investment, Dr Bounchan said.

The price of a one way trip for a car along this road is 20,000 kip and 40,000 kip for a round trip.

Road users began paying tolls on August 17 with the fees varying depending on the type of vehicle.

The government signed a concession with the Duangdy Bridge-Road Construction Company allowing them to collect fees for a period of 45 years in order to repay the company’s investment.

The company claims it is charging a high price because it invested heavily in the project.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

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