The UN Joint Program for Maternal and Child Health received funding from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to support the implementation of the Strategy and Planning Framework for the Integrated Package of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) Services of Lao PDR 2009-2015 through four UN agencies namely World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Members of the UN Communication Group from UNICEF and WHO travelled to Phonsaly Province, with journalists and photographers to enhance the visibility of the program and illustrate how the UN worked together in areas of MNCH and nutrition.
We conducted interviews with the Phonsaly Provincial Vice-Governor; Director of Phonsaly Provincial Health Department, Vice Director of Provincial Hospital in charge of MNCH; Director of District Health Office and Director of District Education Office, health worker, teachers, village health volunteers, villagers and mothers, to present the impact of the UNJP from the perspective of both the service provider and users of the free MNCH services (available in 6 out of 7 districts except Khua District in Phonsaly Province).
Mr Lylavong said ‘I have seen a general overall improvements in health in relation to MDG 1, 4 and 5, and donors like Government of Luxembourg and UN agencies have played an important role, I hope the ownership will eventually transfer to the district and village levels to implement these maternal and child health activities in the field.’
‘The Maternal and Child Health program is a national priority of the Lao Government and the Ministry of Health. However, a lack of funding support and shortage of staff has deterred us from achieving the health-related MDGs but we will continue to strengthen the staff capacity and provide medical equipment and motor vehicles for the district and village level staff’ said Director of Phonsaly Provincial Health Department, Dr Bounsaly Chitdaphone.
Mr Khamsay Vongsack, Director of District Education Office said ‘The collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health for the school deworming program started since 2007 and faced no resistance from parents. There are many health promotion programs that are school-based which includes vaccination and nutrition-related activities like iron folate supplement and provision of school lunches’.
Mr Maisat – Community Based Distributor (CBD) from Vang Doi village of Boun Neua District said ‘I received training for CBD at the Phonsaly Provincial Hospital three years ago; I currently support 7 villages with family planning activities providing contraceptive pills and injection, and condoms to families who attend the family planning counselling session’ said Mr Maisat.
Ms Ankeo, a village health volunteer from Deun Village, Boun Neua District said “I was trained as a nurse in Phonsaly Provincial Hospital and I had to return to Deun village, Boun Neua District for personal family reasons, where I was appointed by the village head as the village health volunteer. I provide health education and advice on maternal and child health to all women of child bearing age, and I encouraged them to go to the health centre for free antenatal checks and delivery.”
Ms Vanh, 27 years old, Phunoi ethnic minority seen here with her daughter Wankeo, 5 months old (her third child) and Ms Ankeo; Ms Vanh said her second child has died unexpectedly two months following birth and she does not know the reasons. She does not plan to have another baby and hopes that Wankeo will be healthy, and she breastfeed her and takes her for her routine immunization at the health centre.
Maternal, Neonatal and Child health activities like CBD, outreach services, school meals, school deworming, free antenatal and delivery services and weekly iron folate supplement will not be possible without the generous support of donors like the Government of Luxembourg. The UN will continue to work together to support the mothers and children in Lao PDR with program aimed at better health and nutrition.