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Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR — On October 11-13, 2023, Acting USAID Country Representative to Lao PDR Dr. Kevin Smith and Deputy Director General of Department of Policy for Devotees, Persons with Disability and Older Persons and Deputy Head of Secretariat to National Committee for Disabilities and Elderly, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Mr. Sengaloun Luangraj together celebrated the achievements of the USAID Okard. More than 150 sub-recipients and stakeholders shared USAID Okard’s successes and impact in promoting the independence and functional ability of persons with disabilities through equal access to quality health and social services in Lao PDR. “The United States is committed to support ...

Vientiane, Lao PDR – 24 August 2023, the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Health, together with USAID Okard, led the hand-over of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) awareness materials, aimed at improving mental health awareness and literacy among community health center staff in eight targeted districts in Xieng Khouang and Savannakhet as well as Provincial and Central hospitals as well as Centre for Health Statistics and Information. Mental health disorders are often neglected or stigmatized in various communities, despite being a crucial element of overall wellbeing. Marginalized populations, including those living in poverty, with chronic conditions, physical disabilities, and their caregivers, are disproportionately ...

VIENTIANE CAPITAL, LAO PDR — On August 22, 2023. USAID Country Representative to Lao PDR, Mr. Michael Ronning joined Director General Department Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Health, Dr. Khamsay Detleuxay to officially hand over a priority list of nearly 13,000 rehabilitation assistive products to strengthen the health and rehabilitation system in Laos, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “We take great pride in providing these substantial rehabilitation assistive products to the Ministry of Health. Our support ensures that individuals with difficulties in functioning will receive quality rehabilitation services, improving their life,” Mr. Ronning expressed with enthusiasm. “The U.S. Government’s commitment to ...

Job Description Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager, USAID Okard May 2023 Background World Education, Inc. (WEI) has been operational in the Lao PDR since 1992. WEI has worked in a number of sectors (agriculture, education, health, microfinance, and repatriation) over the past 25 years. Projects are currently focused on: Disability Inclusion, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, Capacity Building, and Economic Development. Current projects include: 1. USAID Okard: Promotes the independence and functional ability of persons with disabilities through equal access to health and social services, partnering with the public and private sectors to support persons with disabilities in the areas of health, economic empowerment and stakeholder engagement. 2. Lawang: Explosive Ordnance ...

“Data is critical to inform the future direction of the Ministry of Health on rehabilitation. Reviewing the progress of the Rehabilitation Strategy, developing a monitoring framework and increasing availability of data will help us to plan for the next 10 years so we can support the growing number of people who need rehabilitation and increase access to quality rehabilitation services, to build capacity of the health workforce, and to inform the availability of assistive products through a multi-sectoral approach” said Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Health Minister. On 21-22 March 2023, the Ministry of Health, technically supported by WHO and USAID Okard, conducted a meeting to review the ...

The USAID Okard (ໂອກາດ) Activity is guided by the philosophy of Disability Inclusive Development (DID) and the belief that no one should be left behind. It is a 5-year project managed and implemented by World Education that intends to improve and sustain the independent living and functional ability of persons with disabilities, regardless of factors such as age, sex, gender expression, ethnic origin, or indigenous status, and their households in Lao PDR. It is implemented in three target provinces – Vientiane Capital, Xieng Khouang and Savannakhet with partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. The CBID demonstration model districts in Xieng Khouang and Savannakhet have been conducted by local organizations with ...

Photo: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated rehabilitation equipment to Center of Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) – Photo credit: Souliya Ounavong, USAID Okard Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR — On March 13, 2023, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated rehabilitation equipment, valued at 348,472,000 LAK, to Center of Medical Rehabilitation (CMR), Ministry of Health at a ceremony in Vientiane Capital. The donation will strengthen the delivery of quality rehabilitation services to people with disabilities in Laos. The rehabilitation equipment includes an ultrasound machine, shortwave diathermy machine, laser machine and hot packs, funded by USAID through its Okard Project, implemented by World Education. “We ...

Rehabilitation is a key health strategy for the entire population addressing the broad needs of people who have difficulties in functioning across the human lifespan, not just for persons with disabilities. After a six-week training on essential rehabilitation services at Chiang Mai University, supported by USAID and World Education Laos,13 health and rehabilitation professionals commonly known as core trainers are now ready to train more than 150 doctors and nurses from provincial and district hospitals. Equipped with their new pedagogical and training skills and rehabilitation knowledge, they are now working with USAID Okard to develop and deliver in-service training, which they will then provide to 150 ...

On January 13, 2023, the USAID Okard project conducted an Implementation Management Committee (IMC) meeting in Vientiane Capital. The meeting was attended by the National Committee for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health, the Quality of Life Association (QLA) and relevant partners from provincial and district levels. These key stakeholders reviewed the progress of the USAID Okard project as well as discussed lessons learned, achievements, challenges and future plans of the project in order to support disability inclusion in Lao P.D.R. before the project ends. Key government stakeholders shared their appreciation for the considerable progress of ...

Another important step for the LAWANG “Beware” Project: Expanding the Scope of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education in Laos phase II, funded by the U.S. Department of State. In December, a workshop for developing the EORE curriculum for Non Formal Education (NFE) and EORE Handbook for Village Education Development Committees (VEDC) and Youth Volunteers (YVs) occurred in Vientiane Province. The meeting was Chaired by the Honorable Mr. Visan Somphong, Deputy Director General of the Non Formal Education Department and Mrs. Rebecca Derry, Country Director of World Education (WEI) in Laos. Also in attendance were representatives from NFE, General Education, the Department of International Organization, Lao Youth Union, ...