VIENTIANE, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a project to support COVID-19 response in Laos.
The EU and WHO are jointly supporting several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by providing 20 million euros for health system strengthening for COVID-19 preparedness and response under the South East Asia Health Pandemic Response and Preparedness Project.
Under a partnership between the Lao Ministry of Health, the EU and WHO, Laos will receive 2.8 million euros for the 2021-2023 period, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Thursday.
The main aims of the project are to protect people's health, especially that of the most vulnerable, and to ensure their rights and access to health services, by strengthening health systems. At the same time, the project emphasises the importance of a regional approach by increasing collaboration among ASEAN countries, according to a statement from the EU.
Lao Deputy Minister of Health Phouthone Moungpak said at the launch ceremony that the ministry was pleased to work with the EU and WHO as they have both been very important partners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We look forward to working with them to strengthen the regional approach and collaboration that will build a stronger ASEAN as we work together to recover from this pandemic," he said.
Ina Marciulionyte, head of the EU Delegation to the Laos said, "To address the health and socio-economic impacts of the pandemic, the EU has reoriented programs to focus on strengthening regional cooperation on access to information, equipment, and vaccines, which is essential for overcoming this crisis."
The EU ambassador also said that the EU and its member states are highly committed to ensuring that no one is left behind in the global vaccination campaign through the UN-led COVAX Facility.
In the coming weeks Laos will receive the first batch of 480,000 doses of vaccines through the COVAX Facility, according to the report.
WHO Representative to Laos, Mark Jacobs, said at the event on Wednesday that in the past year, WHO has provided extensive technical support to the Lao Ministry of Health, which is critical for partner coordination. Enditem
