WFP donation to enhance Lao Health Ministry capacity

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has donated 162,000 U.S. dollars worth of equipment to the Lao Ministry of Health (MOH) to strengthen the Ministry's provincial and district capabilities. In total WFP donated 24 sets of computers and printers as well as 80 motorbikes, according to a WFP press release on Monday. In the short term the contribution will help strengthen the implementation and monitoring of WFP-supported nutrition activities. In the long term the contribution will benefit the Lao government's implementation of the Mother and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) program. "We are very happy that WFP contributes to building the capacities of our provincial and district staff to enable them to manage their work more effectively and efficiently," said Vice Minister of Ministry of Health Som Ock Kingsada. "Ministry of Health and World Food Program continue to have a close working relationship, so thanks to World Food Program for their continuous support to our Ministry." In Laos the WFP-supported MCHN program provides nutritious supplements to two target groups: pregnant and breastfeeding women and children from six to 23 months of age to prevent stunting. "In partnership with the ministry, we have been able to assist over 12,800 children under two years of age and more than 3,800 pregnant and breastfeeding women so far this year," said WFP Lao PDR Representative Bradley Guerrant. "Early last month, I visited the MCHN program implemented in a health center in Beng district and Ladhane villages in Oudomxay province. In talking with those attending the clinics, the mothers said that their babies were born healthier and had less incident of sickness compared with their siblings of the same age." In 2012, WFP Lao PDR provided over 3,200 metric tons of food to more than 225,000 people throughout the country. The WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Last year WFP provided food assistance to over 97 million people in 80 countries.