To improve institutional response to GBV and monitoring of GBV incidents, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) handed over more than $78,000 worth of health essentials, dignity kits, IT recruitment and furniture for survivors of rape to Lao Women’s Union. Donors include UNFPA, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Embassy of Japan and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Under UNFPA’s support of the Government’s rollout of the Essential Services Package for Women and Girls Subject to Violence (the ESP), essential items for post-rape care were handed over to LWU for distribution to Ministry of Health in two pilot hospitals, Mahosot and Mother and Child Hospitals, in Vientiane Capital.
The President of Lao Women’s Union and the Standing Vice Chairperson of The National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children (NCAWMC), Madame Inlavanh Keobounphanh said “The medical equipment and supplies provided will assist doctors and nurses to provide clinical treatment and emergency contraception, as well as conduct forensic examinations. The kits are part of a comprehensive response by medical professionals to treat survivors of rape with empathy, understanding, referral to other support services and provision of quality health care including provision of clean clothes, hygiene products”.
“Providing essential health supplies for both the medical professionals and the rape survivors is part of standardizing and coordinating the efforts to respond to GBV, as endorsed recently through the health, social and coordination SOPs. The Health SOP provided clear guidance on screening/identifying survivors of violence, clinical treatment, MHPSS, collection of forensic evidence, and post-rape care - now the health system has the appropriate medical equipment and supplies to provide this quality care” said Ms Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative.
As part of UNFPA’s humanitarian response to the recent floods in Oudomxay, the dignity kits were provided for immediate dispatch to flood-affected women and girls. Dignity kits include essential items for women and girls, such as menstrual products, hygiene products, health supplies, safety equipment such as a torch, and supplies to restore dignity, such as a sinh and underwear.
Under the ESP, IT equipment is provided to the social and health sectors in central and provincial level to establish the system for data collection, analysis and management on GBV cases reported in Laos. This includes printers, desktops, laptops, projector, camera and zoom meeting equipment/license, as well as office furniture.
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UNFPA, the U.N.'s sexual and reproductive health agency, works in over 150 countries, including Lao PDR, to achieve zero maternal deaths, unmet family planning needs, and zero gender-based violence.
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