(KPL) On October 9, a training workshop on addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at the local level, utilizing the "One Health" approach, was held at the Luang Prabang Provincial Health Department.

The event was attended by Mrs. Souphaphone Phanavanh, Deputy Head of the Luang Prabang Provincial Health Department, along with leaders from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, representatives from the Veterinary School of France, and technical staff.

The meeting brought together experts and representatives from both the human health and animal health sectors to discuss the threat of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and to enhance "One Health" cooperation.

This involved sharing experiences and information between the human and animal health sectors, with a specific focus on AMR challenges. During the meeting, Mr. Vicent Brioudes, Head of the International Training Unit (Veterinary School of France), and Mr. Xaykham Souksanith, Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, addressed the participants. They emphasized the importance of listening to presentations on developing and implementing awareness-raising activities and One Health collaboration to address AMR. Key areas of focus included strengthening data creation for antibiogram testing (for the animal health sector), improving the process of sample collection and transportation to the provincial and central levels, including result interpretation (for the human health sector), contributing to AMR data dissemination, and conducting activities to secure support from local authorities.

In his opening remarks, Mrs. Souphaphone Phanavanh stated that the workshop is a means of implementing the National Development Strategy and fulfilling the international commitments of the Lao PDR.

She called upon all relevant sectors to focus on creating accurate databases to ensure the health of both humans and animals in local agricultural production, thus promoting efficiency and effectiveness.

The training was divided into three parts:

Part I: Raising One Health awareness and guidance on AMR policy.

Part II: Antibiogram testing (for the animal health sector) and sample collection (for the human health sector).

Part III: Data sharing and conducting activities to secure support from local authorities.

The workshop also included a discussion session for participants to exchange ideas and present their discussion outcomes before the conclusion. Furthermore, posters were distributed to the public and displayed in areas with high community presence.

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