The Lao National Launch Ceremony of the Mekong River Children's Heart Care Project was held on November 11th in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. This project will help Laos improve its capacity for early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of congenital heart disease in children.
Khamphasone, Director of the Department of Treatment and Rehabilitation of the Lao Ministry of Health, stated at the launch ceremony that congenital heart disease is a significant factor affecting the health of children in Laos. Many children in Laos, especially those in rural areas, do not receive timely screening and have limited access to professional treatment. This project will facilitate timely treatment for children with congenital heart disease in Laos and help improve the country's national health system.
Dolin, representative of Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and liaison for the Mekong River Children's Heart Care Project, expressed her honor in strengthening coordination and cooperation with partners such as the Mekong Academy and the Lao Ministry of Health to jointly promote the project's implementation. By providing Laos with ultrasound machines and treatment consumables, and conducting screening and treatment activities, services will be provided to children with congenital heart disease in Laos, enabling early detection and timely treatment, and contributing to the protection of children's health in Laos.
The Mekong River Children's Heart Care Project, funded by the Global Fund for Development and South-South Cooperation, is a practical measure to implement global development initiatives. Jointly guided by the Mekong Academy and Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and implemented in cooperation with the Cambodian and Lao Ministries of Health and local hospitals, the project will significantly improve the well-being of children in both Cambodia and Laos.
It is reported that over the next two years, the project will screen at least 10,000 children in Laos for heart disease, provide comprehensive treatment from diagnosis to rehabilitation for at least 30 diagnosed children, and train more than 110 local medical professionals.
