CHAI scales up availability of oxygen and medication for Covid treatment

The Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Health, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand the partnership between the two organisations and further scale up the availability of oxygen and Covid-19 medication in Laos.
Under the agreement, access to oxygen for treating infectious diseases including Covid-19 will be stepped up, as well as strengthening treatment for Covid-19 in at-risk populations by updating treatment protocols and guidelines.

Director General of the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Dr Khamsay Detleuxay (front left), and Country Director of CHAI Laos, Mr Garrett Young, display signed Memorandums of Understanding.

The project is valued at US$2.6 million with funding from UNITAID, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Global Fund to fight HIV, TB and Malaria. It will continue until 2026.
The agreement signing ceremony was chaired by the Director General of the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Dr Khamsay Detleuxay, and co-chaired by the Country Representative of CHAI-Laos, Mr Garrett Young.
Also were present were officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provincial health offices, provincial hospitals, and health partners UNICEF, WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and others.
Dr Khamsay highlighted the role that CHAI has played in strengthening medical oxygen readiness and infrastructure in Laos through procurement and technical support over the last three years.
“This MOU reflects the strong partnership and continuous coordination between the government and health partners such as CHAI, WHO and the Global Fund. We expect the activities planned under the new MOU with CHAI to be implemented successfully,” Dr Khamsay said.
Mr Young emphasised the successful partnership with the Ministry of Health in conducting a comprehensive assessment of all health facilities and developing and executing an oxygen strategy, which has more than doubled the national oxygen delivery capacity.
“In the last few years, CHAI and the Ministry of Health have focused on shifting the primary oxygen delivery mechanism from high-cost, low-volume cylinders to one that utilises more efficient bulk liquid oxygen,” he said.
“Our efforts have laid the groundwork for procurement efforts worth US$1.5 million for infrastructure upgradation across six provinces and reduced the cost/ton of oxygen from US$650 to US$300. As part of the new MOU, we will implement activities planned in the oxygen strategy and better prepare health facilities to provide oxygen therapy and related services,” Mr Young added.
The partnership between CHAI and the Ministry of Health has led to investments from other health partners (including WHO, LuxDev and USAID) worth more than US$1.2 million for infrastructure and service readiness.
The national oxygen capacity has increased from 60M litres/week to 90M litres/week, the equivalent of 250 severe and moderate Covid-19 treatments per day, and 33,000 litres of additional liquid oxygen capacity is being installed – the equivalent of 500 Covid-19 treatments per refill.
The MOU will strengthen efforts to implement activities planned in the National Oxygen Strategy and better prepare health facilities to provide oxygen therapy and related services.
These efforts will be guided by the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation in close collaboration with and a focus on Bokeo and Khammuan provinces.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update February 20, 2023)