An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | June 19, 2020

United States Provides Additional $2.5 Million to Support COVID-19 Response in Lao PDR

U.S. Embassy in Laos

VIENTIANE, LAO PDR -- The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed an additional $2.5 million to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Lao PDR. In coordination with the Government of Lao PDR, USAID will provide this additional funding to international organizations in Lao PDR to control the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“This additional funding from the United States reaffirms our commitment under the U.S.-Lao Comprehensive Partnership,” said U.S. Ambassador Dr. Peter M. Haymond. “We are proud that total U.S. commitments of COVID related assistance now exceeds $7.5 million. The United States is supporting Government of Lao PDR in its efforts to prevent the spread of this terrible virus and protect the health and wellbeing of the Lao people.”

The United States has provided more than $7.5 million to help Laos respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. In February, the United States, through USAID, provided medical equipment to help frontline health workers safely care for patients in Laos. In March, USAID followed up with more than $1.9 million of new funding support against COVID-19. Last month, the United States provided additional funding of approximately $3.17 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (USCDC). Additionally, two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines, ten laptops, specialized laboratory filters and autoclaves, and numerous testing supplies were donated by U.S. government and private organizations to the Ministry of Health’s National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology to help scientists and health officials conduct testing and contact tracing, respectively.

Through this latest funding assistance, USAID will support:

Community engagement to help educate Lao citizens on steps they can take to prevent and respond to the spread of the virus.
Programs to enhance infection prevention and control.

Support for Lao laboratories to help them diagnose and detect COVID-19 cases.
Efforts to help provide surveillance for COVID-19 to minimize the risk of onwards transmission to others.

The United States has invested nearly $92 million in public health cooperation over the past 20 years in Laos. During that time, USCDC, USAID and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) have supported training for thousands of Lao health workers at the national and sub-national levels, including the majority of front-line Lao epidemiologists and public health experts currently fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the President’s Malaria Initiative, USAID support helped the Government of Laos to reduce the number of malaria cases by 80% in the past six years. Separately, the United States helped Laos eliminate the eye disease trachoma in 2018.

HIV/AIDS infections in Laos have declined dramatically over the past two decades due to successful HIV prevention and treatment programs implemented by the Government of Lao PDR in partnership with local communities, with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). These examples and many others demonstrate long-term U.S. support for the Lao government and people through a range of programs to help improve health outcomes and achieve the country’s development goals.
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
363,083
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With President Wesley Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

AUKUS Trilateral Statement
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - The Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia; the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom; and Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense,...

U.S., India launch Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024
Courtesy Photo
March 21, 2024 - Indian and U.S. combined armed forces began Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024 with the arrival of amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), March 18 and an opening ceremony March 19.This is the third time U.S. and...

USACE: Ensuring Safety Every Step of the Way
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work in Japan for all military services and agencies. With over 60 years of experience in designing and constructing facilities in Japan, JED possesses the experience in Japanese standards and specifications, regulations, construction practices, maintenance requirements, and culture needed to ensure facilities are built with the utmost safety and professionalism. Photo by Charles Maib.
March 21, 2024 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work...

THAAD Battery in Guam Successfully Completes Table VIII Evaluation
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launcher used by E-3 Air Defense Artillery THAAD Battery as part of their Table VIII certification in Dededo, Guam, March 13, 2024. The THAAD battery, equipped with a state-of-the-art missile defense system, is tasked with defending Guam against ballistic missile threats. (U.S. Army Photo by Maj. Trevor Wild)
March 21, 2024 - In a testament to readiness and operational excellence, Task Force Talon's E-3 ADA THAAD Battery conducted a Table VIII evaluation for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system stationed in Guam, March 11-15,...