Health and nutrition programme

Context

Despite remarkable achievements in improving health outcomes, including life expectancy, key indicators such as infant, under-five and maternal mortality from preventable causes remain high in the Lao PDR, and nutrition indicators at the village level are progressing slowly. This can be attributed largely to challenges within the health system.

The Health and nutrition programme is a continuation of two previous healthcare support initiatives. The preceding programme’s specific objective was to support the implementation of the updated Health Sector Reform Framework 2013–2025, with a specific focus on maternal and child health, by fostering and supporting district health systems and actors.

Objectives

The Health and nutrition programme aims to build on the strengths of the previous programme and primarily contributes to the long-term change objective that Lao population demands and has access to an essential health service package – including reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) and nutrition services – of sufficient quality and affordable for all, leaving no one behind.

Beneficiaries

The primary and final beneficiaries of the programme are the entire population of the four partner provinces – Bolikhamxay, Khammouane, Vientiane and Bokeo – estimated at over 1,400,000 people across all districts. Considering the focus on RMNCAH, women of reproductive age and children under the age of five constitute the main beneficiary groups.

Target geographical area

The programme maintains a consistent geographic focus in the three central provinces of Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane, with a full range of health systems strengthening actions, while increasing overall effectiveness and efficiency by deepening interventions. In addition, Bokeo, as one of Luxembourg’s priority partner provinces, is covered through actions related to human resource capital development and integrated RMNCAH, including nutrition outreach activities.

Stakeholders

The Health and nutrition programme is jointly implemented by the Lao Ministry of Health and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.