Party enlists membership for war against Covid 19

The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) has made a political order, calling on all Party members to increase their efforts to lead and supervise the nation to control the spread of Covid 19, likening the status of this work to engaging in a war to protect the country.

According to an order, which the Party’s Secretariat Committee issued on April 6, the virus that causes Covid 19 is a threat to the Lao national development and security.

Therefore, the entire Party, state, armed forces, and Lao people have responsibilities and duty to contain it.

All levels of Party committee and administration must view the containment of Covid 19 as their urgent and strategic task, adding the authorities should mobilise all resources to fight against this dangerous disease as if they are in a state of war.

The overarching goals of the war against COVID 19 are to do whatever possible to limit the spread of this dangerous disease as well as limit the number of fatalities as well as to maintain national security and social order, the Party order states.

Key messages in the Party order signed by Politburo member Mr Phankham Viphavanh on April 6 was that to achieve success in containing the COVID 19 spread, the Party stresses the need to heighten public awareness on the danger of the disease.

This widespread campaign would enable Party members and people nationwide to know how to prevent themselves and family members and other public members from getting infected with the dangerous disease-causing virus, in accordance with advice from the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

In doing so, the Party committee and members are to take the lead and set an example in the fight against this dangerous disease.

Additionally, contributions in the fight against COVID 19 should be taken as one of the activities of note in the lead up to the Party congress.

To ensure effective leadership and supervision in the battle against Covid 19, all levels of the administration ranging from ministerial, provincial and village level should set up a task force committee, which must be headed by the relevant Party Secretary.

Another critical task of all levels of Party committees and administration was to prevent any person or organisation to use the COVID 19 crisis as an opportunity to profiteer or to seek to make personal gains, adding that such kinds of activities should be subject to legal punishment.

In addition to this, the Party instructs the government to continue to study and have proper policies to help economic sectors and enterprises, people, and workers who face a negative impact from the COVID 19 pandemic.

A most important task is that all levels of the Party and administration should offer special treatment to doctors, nurses, and medical officials who are fighting against COVID 19 on the front line, adding that these medics should be equipped with proper protective gear so that they can perform duties safely.

Also, they should receive proper income and welfare so that they will be motivated to perform critical yet dangerous tasks.

In regard to the armed forces, they must be ready to support the mission against Covid 19, in particular in the case of preventing risks of deterioration of public health and safety. 

By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
(Latest Update April 7, 2020)