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USAID, Unicef continue supporting health and nutrition for mothers and children

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UNICEF are committed to support the Lao government to improve the health and nutrition of more than 112,000 mothers and children from the most vulnerable communities and geographically hard-to-reach areas.
USAID provided a grant worth US$2.8 million to UNICEF for a five-year programme expected to be launched in September, according to a statement from UNICEF. Laos has made tremendous progress in improving the lives of children and mothers, with the maternal mortality ratio declining from an estimated 905 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to around 197 in 2015.
The under-five mortality and infant mortality rates have been reduced to around half the levels of 1990, to an estimated 46 and 40 deaths per 1,000 live births respectively.
Despite progress in improving health and nutrition among children and women, children aged under five years still die unnecessarily due to preventable or treatable diseases, such as neonatal causes, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, and under-nutrition. Progress in combating under-nutrition in children also remains slow.
Stunting rates average nationally at 33 percent for under five-year-olds, but more than 40 per cent are among vulnerable groups (the non-Lao-Tai groups, those living without road access, the poorest quintile of households, and those with no education).
 “USAID is proud to support the Government of Lao PDR’s effort to leave no one behind by strengthening community-based primary health and nutrition care services,” said the acting USAID Laos Office Director, Mr Patrick Bowers.
“Through this programme, USAID will work with UNICEF to reach almost 80,000 women of reproductive age, and over 32,000 children under the age of five in 12 districts of four provinces - Attapeu, Khammuan, Saravan, and Savannakhet. This new activity reaffirms our strong partnership with the Government of Laos under the US-Laos Comprehensive Partnership, which is to improve the well-being of the people of Laos.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, this investment is more important in building community health systems and community resilience to ensure the continuation of essential health and nutrition services to avert excess maternal and child morbidity and mortality.
Focusing on the most marginalised communities is also vital, particularly as the socio-economic crisis triggered by the pandemic may further exacerbate inequities within populations.
Good nutrition during the first 1,000 days, from conception to two years of age, is important to support the growth and cognitive development of children. Practices such as breastfeeding of infants under two years of age drastically reduce deaths from acute respiratory infection, diarrhoea and under-nutrition.
Ms Pia Britto, the UNICEF Representative, said: “We are pleased to partner with USAID on the special occasion of World Breastfeeding Week.
“By strengthening the link between health facilities and communities, we are confident that exclusive breastfeeding will increase to at least 50 per cent by 2025.”
As part of the programme, USAID and UNICEF will work closely with the Ministry of Health, Lao Women’s Union, community health workers, volunteers and national and international organisations to implement the Ministry of Health’s Primary Health Care Policy focusing on community-based primary health care.
The intervention will enhance district health management and strengthen the capacity of primary healthcare workers to provide equitable maternal and child health and nutrition services to vulnerable populations.


By Times Reporters
(Latest Update
August 11,
2020)


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