ANCP/LXML Maternal and Child Health Program

This project aimed to improve the health and nutritional status of infants, children and women in Vilabouly District, Savannakhet Province, Laos.

Objective

Supported by ANCP and LXML (a Laos gold and copper mine owned by MMG) since 2008, this project aimed to build the capacity of district health care personnel, especially in planning and management of primary health care.

Timeline

1 July 2011–June 2015.

Approach

The project spanned working in 24 villages in two subdistricts of Vilabouly, 14 villages near the mine site, and 10 villages that are up to one hour (35 km) from the mine in MeungVang.

The district health staff and health volunteers provide a variety of health and nutrition services to women and children under five years of age.

Local Project Manager, Kongchay Vongsaiya and her team travelled to outlying villages to provide a range of mobile health services such as vaccinations for children under five, antenatal check-ups, health checks and growth monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of sick children, and referrals of serious cases to local hospitals.

Community impact

The villagers have enthusiastically supported the targeted health promotion activities that follow each health clinic and that encouraged the ANCP team to trial another initiative: kitchen gardens.

A kitchen garden program was introduced to some villages in 2013 with local women and men receiving vegetable seeds and advice about growing their own produce to improve overall health.

The activities undertaken were wide-ranging and follow the National Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Program guidelines.

The training activities undertaken include:

• health promotion training
• refresher training on nutrition
• first aid training in collaboration with Lao Red Cross
• regular MCH/Nutrition outreach sessions in 10 villages in the Muangvang Area and 6 villages in the Vilabouly District.