Partners who are present

Chronology

ESTHER support in the Lao People's Democratic Republic was requested by the Minister of Health, His Excellency Pomnek Dalaloy, in spring 2005. Two exploratory missions were undertaken in 2006 and 2007 and an Administrative Arrangement between the two countries was signed in April 2007. The partnership project between the Mahosot Hospital (Vientaine), APHP Saint-Louis and CHU Strasbourg, as well as the member hospitals of the PHPT Network in Chiang Maï began in early 2008. This project, planned for a period of 5 years, benefits from co-financing from the AFD within the framework of its Health Project in Laos.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES IN 2008

§ Reinforcement of treatment capacities at Mahosot Hospital (Vientiane)

- Training at Mahosot and training internships: comprehensive treatment and care of seropositive patients (see details of activities below).

- Setting up of a dispensing unit in the HIV Department.

- Setting up of outpatient consultations.

- Reinforcement of the financing and capacities of laboratory equipment.

- Psychosocial support (nutritional support, payment of transportation costs for indigent patients, financing of support visits to patients' homes, financing for patient self-support group monthly meetings).

§ Technical support for the Ministry of Health and partners (CHAS, Global Fund, WHO...) in the "Care and Treatment" Group.

- Publishing of a guide with ARV and OI therapeutic recommendations.

- Drawing up of the proposal for Round 8 of the Global Fund (accepted in October 2008).

- Counselling on the procurement of medicines and equipment (CD4 counter).

- Drawing up of an evaluation questionnaire for ARV sites.

- Drawing up of a Standard Delivery Model for seropositive patients.

§ Identification of the needs of the Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital and drawing up of the project document.

- Three task force meetings were organized in Luang Prabang between May and September 2008 with the ESTHER country coordinator and the partners at the Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital to define objectives and draw up the project document. This project was presented to the Selection Committee on November 7, 2008 and to the Project Committee on December 11, 2008. It will provide support for 2 years (2009-2010) for a Luang Prabang ARV site in connection with the National Programme for the Fight against HIV and the other actors involved.