Vientiane, 9 December, the Ministry of Planning and Investment together with relevant partners organized a final review of the 5th Country Programme implementation with support from UNFPA in Lao PDR. The meeting highlighted key achievements in the area of sexual and reproductive health including increased capacity of midwives and midwifery institution, expansion of family planning choices and commitments by the Government, increased information and services on SRH for young people and increased evidence and disaggregated data through surveys and research as such Lao Social Indicator Survey, Population and Housing Census 2015 and a national study on violence against women.
Ms. Sisomboun Ounavong, Head of Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment, said at the meeting that “Support from UNFPA has contributed significantly to the country development in the past 5 years and has helped to achieve national goals including the Millennium Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 and Goal 5 in reducing maternal mortality. ” The Government appreciates the assistance from UNFPA and will continue to work with UNFPA in the next cycle.
The meeting also marks a start to the new cycle of cooperation, the 6th Country Programme 2017-2021. UNFPA Lao PDR’s new country programme will focus on the marginalized population, particularly rural and ethnic women, adolescents and young people. It aims to ensure that adolescent girls are empowered to delay their first pregnancy and can fulfil their full potential and thus contribute to the sustainable future of Lao PDR.
UNFPA looks forward to collaborate with the Government and national partners on the 6th Country Programme to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person’s potential is fulfilled, and no one is left behind, especially adolescent girls.
For more information, please contact:
Ms Kay Amphone Singhalath – Communications Associate, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Laos
Tel: +856 21 353048, 315547
Fax: +856 21 353051
Email: singhalath@unfpa.org
