A grant of US$ 200 000 provided under the World Bank’s Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility will fund a programme of technical support to 50 district hospitals across Lao PDR, to help them upgrade hygiene and infection control.
The work will take place under the Safe, Clean and Green Health Facility Initiative, jointly supported by Lao PDR’s Ministry of Health and WHO, which is designed to improve health facility hygiene, infection control and waste management in 40 districts.
In each hospital, an in-hospital team is trained to identify the critical gaps, and to develop and implement an action plan. It is expected that this promising approach will accelerate making all health facilities safe clean and green within the next 3 years.
The Ministry and WHO are also engaging with District and Provincial Governments and Health Departments to monitor and accelerate progress on other aspects of COVID-19 preparedness.
A further US$ 800 000 – overseen by UNICEF – will fund procurement and delivery of essential vaccines.