Ministry, Unitel provide 5 billion kip to manage Covid-19 outbreak

The Ministry of Technology and Communications together with Unitel have contributed cash and technical assistance worth 5 billion kip (US$500,000) to government efforts in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which poses a serious threat to human life and Laos’ economy.
The ministry and Star Telecom Company (Unitel) have donated 1.5 billion kip in cash, data and telephone accounts worth 1.35 billion kip, and a vaccination management and vaccine passport system, with a total value of up to 5 billion kip.

Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune (right) receives the donation.

The ceremony took place on May 5 and was attended by the Minister of Technology and Communications, Prof. Dr Boviengkham Vongdara, Unitel’s General Director Mr Luu Manh Ha and the company’s board of directors.
Prof. Dr Boviengkham Vongdara presented the donation to Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, who is Chairman of the National  Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.
The minister said the purpose of the donation was to support the government’s management of the vaccination programme.
The vaccine passport and vaccination administration system (also known as the National Vaccination Information Management System), worth 2 billion kip, will keep track of those vaccinated using a unique ID number that corresponds to a person’s vaccination history, vaccine supplies, and lifelong individual vaccination history.
The system uses the Cloud computing platform. It is secure and intuitive number generated in real time and allows people to track their vaccination history or that of a family member. After vaccination, a Certificate of Vaccination and a QR Code will be issued.
Vaccination results will be regularly updated by health staff on the system to help the management agency capture and monitor information and data for the implementation of the vaccination programme.
The Ministry of Technology and Communications will organise the deployment and use of this system.
Prof. Dr Boviengkham said the ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Health to implement information technology solutions and systems such as a medical reporting system.
Also present at the handover of the donation, Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, said the Party and government were determined to use all possible measures to deal with the epidemic.
The government has also received a lot of support from other departments as well as from the Ministry of Technology and Information and Unitel, in support of efforts to deal with the virus outbreak.
Supporting the government with money and equipment is an extremely important contribution to the dedicated National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.
While the virus remains a threat, support from all sources is essential to bolster efforts to contain the epidemic.

By Advertorial Desk
(Latest Update May 10, 2021)