The government of Australia has donated a respiratory ventilator to Luang Namtha Hospital to save patients’ lives.

A handover ceremony took place in the Luang Namtha Provincial Hospital on June 7 in the presence of the Director of Luang Namtha Hospital, Sengvong Bouttavong, Australian Ambassador to Laos John Williams and relevant officials.

At the ceremony, Mr Sengvong thanked the Australian government for providing much-needed medical equipment, which will save patients’ lives.

The Australian Government has so far provided an estimated total of  $42.3 million in Official Development Assistance to Laos in 2017-18. This includes an estimated $20.6 million in bilateral funding to Laos managed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Australia has a strong interest in ensuring Laos continues to develop as a stable neighbour that is increasingly well-positioned to contribute to regional security and economic growth. The aid to Laos aims to build prosperity and reduce poverty, while helping Laos take advantage of economic integration with the region.

Laos has made good economic progress since the introduction of market-based economic reforms in the 1980s.

Standards of living have improved for many people, but the country still faces significant development challenges.

The benefits of economic growth have not been shared equally and some social development indicators remain very weak. Educational opportunities diverge significantly depending on geography, gender, and ethnicity.

Laos' resources sector, led by mining and hydropower, will remain an important engine of growth and trade. However, to ensure economic opportunities are more broadly shared in the future, Laos' economic base will need to widen and encourage investment in sectors such as agriculture, small and medium enterprise development and tourism.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL

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