France gives boost to health education in Laos

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) - The French government is continuing to support the health sector in Laos and has provided plane tickets for five health officials to attend a short course in Vietnam on infectious diseases.

The Embassy of France to Laos provided the tickets and the recipients will attend the course from September 17 to 24.

Ambassador Claudine Ledoux handed over the plane tickets to enable the group to participate in the course, titled “Computational Biology for Infectious Diseases” at the Quy Nhon Summer School in Vietnam.

This support would help to broaden the knowledge of Lao health officials, she said.

Health officials have few opportunities to broaden their capacity and knowledge so they can achieve the standards of fellow Asean nations.

The Vietnamese university is holding a week of lectures and group work sessions to provide students, researchers and professionals with basic concepts and practical experience in the quantitative analysis of infectious diseases, Ledoux added.

 The programme is divided into five parallel thematic groups and will be taught by recognised experts.

The Ambassador praised the training course which she said would allow the health officials to deepen their technical knowledge and enrich their personal experience alongside trainees from all over the region. Upon their return, the group would be able to better serve their institutions and contribute to the development of their country, she added.

According to the French Embassy, France is investing in population health and health systems with public development aid, valued at about 5 million Euros a year.

 In addition, France actively supports scientific research in Laos with a network of excellence comprising six institutions (IRD, CIRAD, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Centre Mérieux and IFMT) and annual commitments of about 3 million Euros.

 This network makes a decisive contribution to the surveillance and control of infectious diseases, as well as to the capacity building of health personnel.

Source(s)

  • Vientiane Times

Photos

No photos has been attached.