GMS-LAO: Regional Communicable Diseases Control

Details

Project	37604-022
Related Projects	Search
Type	Grant
Sector	Health
Country	Lao PDR
Start	2005
End	2012
Status	Closed
Last Edited	05 Jul 2021

Funding

US$('000) 7,500

Confinancing Source: World Health Organization

Project Description

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Regional Communicable Diseases Control Project was designed to develop the capacity to contain emerging diseases and reduce the burden of common neglected diseases in Cambodia, the Lao People-s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and Viet Nam (the CLV countries). The 4-year, $38.75 million project was supported by a $30 million grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), $0.9 million in cofinancing from the World Health Organization (WHO), $4.55 million from the Government of Viet Nam, $1.98 million from the Government of Cambodia, and $1.32 million from the Government of the Lao PDR. The expected project outcomes were (i) timely and adequate control of epidemics likely to have a major impact on public health and the economy in the region; (ii) improved coverage of prevention and care of communicable diseases in vulnerable populations; and (iii)improved know-how, policies, standards, and coordination among countries to improve communicable diseases control (CDC), including for HIV/AIDS, through regional cooperation. The project prioritized 26 provinces including 5 in Cambodia, 6 in the Lao PDR, and 15 in Viet Nam, but also supported disease outbreak control nationwide. The project aimed for a 15% reduction in communicable diseases in the targeted provinces and more for certain specific infections, thereby helping the CLV countries make progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing the child mortality rate and containing HIV/AIDS and other infections. In each country, the Ministry of Health (MOH) was the executing agency. Implementation was undertaken by MOH departments, the 26 targeted provinces, and 9 national institutions. To facilitate the flow of funds for regional activities, $4.3 million, or 11% of the project funds, was administered by ADB as a regional pooled fund3 and managed by a regional coordination unit (RCU). ADB provided WHO with $1.6 million from the pooled fund, which, combined with $0.9 million of WHO, was used to engage international experts for the control of emerging diseases.

Progress (as of March 2021)

Project closed

Contacts

Contact 1
Contact Name	de Wit, Vincent P.
Organization	Asian Development Bank
Email
Contact 2
Contact Name	-
Organization	-
Email	-

News and Multimedia

Guppy fish in open-air water containers can help destroy the breeding grounds of mosquitoes and stop the spread of dengue fever.
Source: ADB Flickr

The dengue prevention campaign focuses on spraying for the mosquitoes and emptying sources of standing water that act as the mosquitoâs breeding ground.
Source: ADB Flickr

National under-5 child mortality rate in Lao PDR was reduced in support to the MDGs of reducing the child mortality rate.
Source: ADB Flickr

Malaria testing strip.
Source: ADB Flickr

Mr. Thavone Chansy, village health volunteer, doing a malaria testing on a migrant worker.
Source: ADB Flickr

Mr.Bounxay Phommasone, Lao mobile trader, educates villagers about the risk of malaria, while also trying sell his products.
Source: ADB Flickr

Mr. Bounthan Heua, office manager at the Donesahong Hydro Power Camp and Village Health Volunteer inform Chinese migrant workers about malaria risks at their living quarters.
Source: ADB Flickr

Mr. Thavone Chansy, village health volunteer, reaching out to migrant workers to inform about the danger of malaria.
Source: ADB Flickr

National infant mortality rate reduced from 75/1,000 in 2004 to 42.1/1,000 in 2010. National under-five mortality rate reduced from 98/1,000 in 2004 to 61/1,000 in 2010. HIV prevalence among 15-24 year old service women reduced from 2.02% in 2004 to 0.4% in 2008.
Dengue incidence in the target provinces declined by 53% between 2005 and 2009; fewer cases in Savannakhet and Champasack, but dengue spread to Oudomxai and Attapeu.
The proportion of responses to reported disease outbreaks, compared to 14 outbreaks reported in 2005, 66 outbreaks were reported in 2009, of which 30 (45.5%) were responded to appropriately by provincial teams and 36 (54.5%) were responded to appropriately by a central team, out of a target of 100%.
Dengue vector control coverage in villages was 31%, 59%, and 30% in 2007, 2008, and 2009, respectively. The decrease in 2009 was due to funding constraints.