From Feb 6-11, Vice President of the Lao Front for National Development (LFND) Nhiakerya Nochochongtoua, and his team travelled to Xieng Khuang and Huaphan provinces with the support of UNICEF to help strengthen the provincial community engagement efforts on COVID-19 and routine immunisation campaign.
During the visit, Mr. Nhiakerya Nochochongtoua handed over three sets of IT equipment, including laptops, LCD projectors with screens, and mobile speakers to authorities of Pek district in Xieng Khuang, as well as Hieme and Sone districts of Huaphan province.
UNICEF also provided mobile phones to the youth media teams in Xieng Khuang and Huaphan for use in the promotion of COVID-19 and routine immunization, as well as child rights on social media.
The equipment are supported by UNICEF as part of its Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) programme, which is aimed at promoting COVID-19 and routine vaccination and promoting community awareness about vaccination.
Activities under the programme are carried out by the Centre of Communication and Education for Health (CCEH) and the LFND. Previously, UNICEF also supported IT equipment to Saravan, Xekong, Attapeu, and other provincial LFND.
“On behalf of the LFND, I would like to express my gratitude to UNICEF, the Australian government, USAID, the UNICEF Emergency Fund and Italy on behalf of the LFND for their generous support,” said Mr. Nhiakerya Nochochongtoua.
The Vice President of LFND also met with the provincial LFND in Xieng Khuang and Huaphan and visited several rural villages and health centres to meet with health staff and understand the challenges they are facing.
He also met with the most senior and respected people in the rural communities and requests for support in community engagement to promote health, education, protection of women and children.
“I would like to congratulate the provincial authorities for the success of their COVID-19 response and vaccination campaign, especially the risk communication and community participation component. I hope we can deepen our collaboration for the benefit of our community,” said Mr. Tabongphet Phouthavong, UNICEF Communication Specialist.
The collaboration between the LFND and UNICEF started in 2016 with the development and dissemination of issue briefings focused on nutrition, immunisation, violence against children, early childhood development and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), especially around the issue of open defecation.
In 2022, the LFND and UNICEF signed a multi-year workplan under the framework of the new country programme 2022-2026. The key elements of this workplan include the development and dissemination of key advocacy and communication messages and TV spots promoting awareness on various child-related topics as well as promotion of community engagement on COVID-19 vaccination.
Source: Lao News Agency