KOICA donates equipment for Covid-19 prevention to Children’s Hospital

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) office in Laos has donated emergency supplies to prevent Covid-19 to the Children’s Hospital in Vientiane.
The ceremony for handing over the medical equipment, which was held on Friday, was attended by the Deputy Resident Representative of the KOICA Office, Ms Wonyoung Yeo, and the Deputy Director General of the Children’s Hospital, Dr Phonedavanh.

The KOICA donated the emergency medical supplies to the hospital as part of its Fellowship Alumni Activity.
The supplies included Covid-19 prevention products, including masks, children’s multivitamins and antipyretic patches, portable hand sanitisers, hand cleaners, attaching sanitisers and thermometers, and children’s goods such as colour pencils and stationery sets.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Wonyoung Yeo said the supplies will support the response to Covid-19 in Laos. The KOICA office has provided goods to prevent and control the spread of the Coronavirus to vulnerable groups, especially children, she said.
She said KOICA alumni working at the Children’s Hospital are cooperating with the organisation and using the experience and know-how they gained from fellowship programmes to prevent Coronavirus infections among Lao children.
“KOICA hopes this donation prepared by the Children’s Hospital and the KOICA alumni will help the hospital and children to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and stay strong,” she said.
Dr Phonedavanh said: “We are grateful for KOICA’s emergency medical support. We are looking forward to cooperating with KOICA as a good partner in the health sector.”
The Director of the ICU Division of the Children’s Hospital, Dr Vilayphone  Phaimany, said, “As a KOICA alumnus, I would like to express my gratitude to KOICA for this support to our children during the Covid-19 crisis.”
The ceremony was also attended by the Director of the Medical Administration Division, Dr Xayavong, the Director of the Emergency Division,   Dr Syamphan, the Director of the Office and Administration Division,  Dr Sanyalack, and the KOICA Fellowship Programmes alumni from the Hospital.
According to KOICA, the Children’s Hospital was established in 2011 with the organisation’s support and is one of the five central hospitals in Laos. It plays an important role inbtraining medical personnel and is developing as a representative and specialised hospital for children.
The Children’s Hospital has partnered with KOICA for several projects, including “Capacity Building Programme for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (’19 to 21)” and the “Integrated Maternal, Neonatal and Child Healthcare with the Health Care Project on Pediatric Education Project (I-HOPE) (’13-‘18)” and has established itself as an essential partner of the organisation.
As a key partner, the hospital makes great efforts to improve Lao children’s health and prevention of Covid-19 by using lessons learned from Korean medical techniques and know-how.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update May 5, 2020)