17 December 2021, Vientiane Capital - Women and girls at quarantine and treatment facilities in 16 provinces, will receive hygiene kits to support their sexual and reproductive health and rights during COVID-19. Over 5,000 women and girls will receive hygiene kits consisting of toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, reusable mask, sanitary pads, and buckets. Good Neighbour Laos has contributed $50,000USD through the UNFPA network of partnerships and services.
The handover ceremony was convened at Lao Women’s Union, attended by Mme Inlavanh Keobounphanh, President of Lao Women Union; Dr. Phonepaseuth Ounaphom, Director of Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion; Mr. Yongki Choi, Country Director of Good Neighbor Laos; and Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative for Lao PDR.
Mme Invalahn Keobounphanh, President of Lao Women Union, expressed her appreciation to UNFPA and Good Neighbor Laos for their support. She said: "These hygiene kits are important and necessary to protect women and girls' sexual and reproductive health at the quarantine centers. As COVID-19 infections continue to increase in many provinces, these essential supplies are urgently needed. Therefore, we must ensure continuity of assistance to women and girls, especially providing hygiene kits so they can protect themselves and prevent COVID-19 infection."
Dr. Phonepaseuth Ounaphom, Director of the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion, Ministry of Health, said, “services on sexual and reproductive health, including maternal health for women and pregnant women, must be continually provided, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and mothers are healthy and safe. These essential supplies will contribute to ensuring that. ”
Mr. Yongki Choi, Country Director of Good Neighbor Laos, said, “Representing GN Laos, we would like to be a part of contributing and helping on the Covid-19 pandemic response. Especially, female migrant returnees in quarantine centers in different parts of Lao PDR ensure reproductive and sexual health and rights of females in response to COVID19 as we could see the number of migrants in the southern & Northern zone also increased a lot from months ago. Hence, GN Laos also decided to support hygiene kits to females in quarantine centers in 11 provinces. Facilities by UNFPA.”
Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative for Lao PDR, said, "We must protect women's sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially in times of crisis like COVID 19 pandemic. The unique health needs of women and girls require women centered and specific responses. This valuable contribution from Good Neighbor Laos will enable women and girls to have access to essential items they need to keep them safe and healthy during the quarantine period."
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About UNFPA
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, works in over 150 countries including Lao PDR, to achieve zero maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence.
About Good Neighbor Laos
Good Neighbors is an international humanitarian development NGO founded in Korea in 1991 to make the world a place without hunger, where people live together in harmony.
For more information please contact:
Ms. Sisouvanh Vorabouth, Programme Gender Analyst, UNFPA Laos
Email: vorabouth@unfpa.org
Ms. Vanly Lorkuangming, Communications and Partnership Analyst, UNFPA Laos
Email: lorkuangming@unfpa.org
