Prevention Team Goes to Southern Laos
In June 2025, Lao Friends Hospital for Children’s Prevention Team reached a new milestone in their mission to improve child health nationwide. At the invitation of UNICEF, Prevention Project Officer Mr Anoutouly Keolathana and Nutritionist Officer Ms Soulee Chakeryere traveled to Savannakhet Province in southern Laos to support the implementation of the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) and Prevention activities.
Until recently, the team’s work was focused on northern districts such as Nan and Phonexay. This trip marked an important step in sharing their expertise with health workers and communities in the south, strengthening the fight against childhood malnutrition across the country.
Collaboration with local health professionals
Over four days, the LFHC team worked closely with UNICEF, the provincial Health and Hygiene Promotion Department (HHPD), district health offices, and village health volunteers.
At the provincial level, they presented the outcomes of LFHC’s IMAM and Prevention pilot projects and exchanged lessons learned to help Savanhnakhet adapt and apply similar strategies. At the district level, the team visited Phin and Xepon, meeting with health officials to discuss project goals and practical approaches for effective implementation
Hands-On Support in Villages
Together with local health workers, the LFHC team conducted screenings of children under five to detect severe and moderate acute malnutrition. Children identified as at risk were referred for treatment and follow-up until they reached a healthy nutritional status.
They also introduced and demonstrated the use of MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) tapes to mothers a simple but powerful tool that allows parents to monitor their children’s nutrition at home. Each mother received a MUAC tape, empowering them to take an active role in safeguarding their child’s health.
Mutual Learning and Lasting Impact
While the visit was designed to share LFHC’s experience, it also became an opportunity for mutual learning. The Prevention Team gained valuable insights from Savanhnakhet’s health promotion campaigns, including MUAC demonstration approaches not yet implemented in LFHC’s target districts.
Towards a Healthier Future for All Children
From north to the the south of the country, LFHC’s Prevention Team is proving that collaboration, community engagement, and shared knowledge are powerful forces in building a healthier future for children across Laos. With partnerships like this, the fight against childhood malnutrition is no longer a local effort, it’s a nationwide movement.
