(KPL) As the world grapples with the aftermath of COVID-19, the economic crisis and the impacts of climate change, the right to health for all is under threat.

However, in the Lao PDR, a partnership between the Ministry of Health of the Lao PDR, Luxembourg and three United Nations agencies — UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO — is spotlighting a compelling strategy in protecting the right to health for all and boosting the nation’s development. That partnership is the UN Joint Programme and its underlying strategy is the comprehensive investment in health covering reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.

Core to this strategy are various components: strengthening primary healthcare services by developing the capacity of those who provide it; support with equipment, medicines and vaccines; and improving data systems with a focus on providing care for a child during the first 1000 days of their life. Indeed, healthcare workers are the linchpin in this overarching endeavour, delivering essential services in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Thus, strengthening their skills and making sure they have access to these necessary resources is more than just an investment in their individual careers - it is also an investment in the nation’s health infrastructure.

Our programme’s focus on adolescent health is equally important. Adolescents represent a significant portion of the Lao population and their well-being has direct implications for the country’s future. By addressing their health needs, including mental, sexual and reproductive health, and nutrition we are also supporting their personal development and the Lao PDR’s prosperity. And very importantly, the programme also places emphasis on strengthening the management and coordination of all these efforts between the Ministry of Health and its partners, tying everything together into a cohesive effort.

Since its inception in 2011, this joint programme, which now is in its third phase, represents a forward-looking approach to guaranteeing the right to health for all in the Lao PDR and much progress has been achieved since: newborn and child mortalities has dropped and is now at 12 per 1000 live births for newborns and 28 per 1000 live births for children under-five years of age respectively; maternal mortality has reduced significantly over the past decades to 126 per 100,000 live births per UN estimates for 2023. However, the shadow of COVID-19 also looms large over our efforts, disrupting healthcare services and exposing vulnerabilities in the health system. The need to improve the quality and accessibility of health services, especially those in remote villages and marginalized communities, remains a priority.

A field visit by the Ministry of Health, the Luxembourg Embassy in the Lao PDR, UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO to Bokeo province late last year also highlighted the work that remains unfinished, including the agenda of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, as well as the unmet need for family planning support.

Despite the adversity we faced, there are also opportunities. Progress is possible with the right set of investments and commitments. For example, the pandemic has also spurred innovation in health, notably the use of digital technology in providing health services across distances, which has emerged as a key tool in expanding healthcare access in the country. These advancements are not merely stopgap measures but stepping stones towards a more resilient and accessible healthcare system, capable of withstanding the pressures of climate change and other global threats.

As the Lao PDR stands at a crossroads, the collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Luxembourg, and the UN agencies offers a model of international cooperation and its power to transform lives. Furthermore, Luxembourg's significant financial commitment to the programme across a decade, amounting to around 23 million euros, underscores the depth of its partnership with the Lao PDR and is a testament to the potential of targeted health initiatives to catalyze broader social and economic benefits.

On the occasion of World Health Day 2024 and its theme of “My health, my right”, we make the call for the following actions to respect, protect and fulfill the right to health for all in the Lao PDR:

Renew and strengthen commitments to leaving no one behind when it comes to universal health coverage. We can do so by focusing our efforts on expanding access to quality health services in remote areas, including through the enforcement of the recently endorsed primary healthcare law;

Digitize health facilities by improving digital data collection systems, introducing an electronic immunization registry, remote temperature monitoring system alongside electronic learning tools for immunization and the IMNCI Lao App; 

Build the capacity of village health volunteers who act as a bridge connecting us to communities;

Increase budgets and investments in health. Now is the time for the Lao PDR to increase its health budget to its committed 9 per cent allocation. By investing in health, we are investing in the future of the country and saving lives;

Advance the Lao PDR’s commitments at the International Conference on Population and Development and its Family Planning 2030 commitments by strengthening universal access to health coverage, ensuring the improvement of the supply chain management, advancing access to youth-friendly services, especially in hard-to-reach areas through the deployment of well-trained midwives and health providers.

The journey ahead for the Lao PDR is fraught with challenges but also brimming with opportunities. We thank all of those who have been part of this unfolding journey, especially Luxembourg whose unwavering support continues to beacon for a healthier future in the Lao PDR. By prioritizing health as a cornerstone of development and realising these actions, the Lao PDR can pave the way for a future marked by resilience, prosperity and the well-being of its people.

Joint Op-Ed by UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and the Luxembourg Embassy in the Lao PDR commemorating World Health Day 2024.

KPL