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Continuing Australia’s responsive and productive partnership with the Lao PDR, Ms Benita Sommerville, Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in the Lao PDR visited Bokeo Province from 19-21 February to see firsthand multiple programmes supported by the Australian Government.
Australian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Benita Sommerville, left,pays a courtesy call
to Bokeo Governor Thongchanh Manixay
(KPL) Continuing Australia’s responsive and productive partnership with the Lao PDR, Ms Benita Sommerville, Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in the Lao PDR visited Bokeo Province from 19-21 February to see firsthand multiple programmes supported by the Australian Government.
These included an eye health project, gender-based violence programme, and Responding with Essential Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Provision and New Delivery (RESPOND) programme.
The Deputy Head of Mission also paid a courtesy call to Bokeo Governor Thongchanh Manixay before delivering remarks at a human rights workshop and meeting with senior officials from various sectors, including the Bokeo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During the meeting with Governor Thongchanh, Ms Sommerville highlighted the longstanding and blossoming relationship between Laos and Australia over the past 73 years.
She confirmed that under the Laos-Australia Comprehensive Partnership, bilateral cooperation between the two countries will continue to grow.
While in Bokeo, Deputy Head of Mission visited the Strengthening Eye Health System Lao PDR project implemented by the Fred Hollows Foundation.
This project improves access to eye care for marginalised groups and works with partners to resource ongoing services in the eye health sector. It works with the Ministry of Health to improve service provision through training eye care workers and to upgrade the facilities of eye health systems in Laos.
In addition, Deputy Head of Mission was honoured to deliver opening remarks at a workshop on human rights, supported by the Australia-Laos Human Rights Technical Cooperation Programme.
DHOM visited Bokeo Hospital to learn about the life-changing impact of eye surgery supported by Australia's Fred Hollows Foundation. Ethnic minority patients benefit from treatment by local doctors who speak minority languages. Doctors shared heartwarming stories of elderly patients overcome with joy at seeing the faces of their grandchildren for the first time.
The workshop increases understanding and practice of human rights at all levels of government and society. Through the programme, Australia is committed to supporting the Lao PDR to fulfil its human rights obligations.
During the visit, Ms Sommerville visited the Provincial Counselling and Protection Centre for Women and Children.
The centre is a place of protection for survivors of gender-based violence, keeping them safe from further harm from perpetrators, and supporting their recovery.
In Laos, seven in ten women who experienced gender-based violence sought no help at all from formal sources. Australia is proud to work with UNFPA and the Lao Women’s Union to empower survivors of gender-based violence to access services including health care, legal advice, counselling, and vocational training.
Finally, Deputy Head of Mission visited a mobile clinic provided under the RESPOND programme led by the Promotion of Family Health Association. RESPOND works in 308 villages across eight districts in Bokeo and Luang Namtha providing sexual and reproductive health services.
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