Today, Minister of Health, HE Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, welcomed newly appointed World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Lao PDR, Dr Timothy Armstrong, alongside other senior officials at the Ministry of Health.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr Timothy Armstrong to Lao PDR and look forward to a successful partnership to protect health,” said Dr Phoummalaysith.
“Since WHO’s establishment of the first UN office in-country in 1962, the organization and its staff have been trusted partners to Lao PDR. With their support, the country has made remarkable health progress over the decades, including the successful management of COVID-19, the elimination of lymphatic filariasis and trachoma, the near elimination of malaria, and a nearly 80% reduction in maternal mortality since 2000.”
Dr Phoummalaysith continued: “As we tackle these remaining challenges – and look to future health risks like noncommunicable diseases and climate change – we are proud to be working side-by-side with the WHO team.”
Dr Armstrong pledged WHO’s ongoing support to Lao PDR and commitment to building on the historic, life-saving collaboration.
“It is an honour to represent WHO in Lao PDR and continue building on significant efforts to ensure health for all, nationwide,” said Dr Armstrong. “WHO is fully committed to supporting the Ministry of Health, and the people of Lao PDR, to address the health issues faced now and in the years to come.”
“Lao PDR has made great strides in improving healthcare access and quality, and I'm eager to begin working to advance the health and well-being of the Lao people."
Dr Armstrong is a global health diplomacy and noncommunicable disease (NCD) expert from Australia, with more than 30 years of experience as a public health adviser.
From 2002, Dr Armstrong served at WHO’s headquarters in Geneva in the field of NCDs. Most recently, from 2015, he served as Director of the Department of Governing Bodies, overseeing strategic engagement with WHO’s 194 Member States and managing other high-level WHO governance mechanisms and structures.
Dr Armstrong has played an important role in shaping the global health agenda within complex environments. His areas of focus include NCDs, mobilizing political and financial support for health, increasing the voice of lower- and middle-income countries in global discussions, and bringing emerging topics such as climate change to the forefront.
In Lao PDR, WHO collaborates extensively with the Ministry of Health and other relevant ministries to address a wide range of health challenges. With the impacts of climate change, ongoing economic challenges and lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country and its population are particularly vulnerable. Therefore, WHO’s focus has been to promote sustainable and resilient health systems, to protect communities from health emergencies and diseases, and safeguard health amid climate change and environmental threats.