VIENTIANE, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that it will continue to provide around 2 million U.S. dollars in assistance to Laos each fiscal year from 2017 to 2021.
Laos can also submit proposals to request increased support in case of a disease outbreak such as dengue and other diseases, according to an agreement signed Tuesday in Vientiane between WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Shin Young-soo and Lao Minister of Health Bounkong Syhavong.
"I believe that this Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS ) will guide us well over the next five years as we work together to improve the health of the people in the Laos," Shin was quoted by Lao state-run media Vientiane Times as saying.
The extended support will launch the new WHO and Laos CCS for 2017 to 2021, aiming to sustain the Lao government's health improvements and support the government to address emerging health challenges in the country.
The Lao minister, for his part, said the aid affirms the constructive partnership between WHO and Lao Health Ministry to support health sector reform and its quest to achieve University Health Sciences coverage.
They will improve service delivery of public health programs to reach the vulnerable groups and protect the public from vaccine preventable diseases, like polio, measles and rubella, Bounkong said.