LEARN Lao PDR - National Assembly member visited a Workshop and Field visit on Nutrition and MCH status in Savannakhet province

Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute (Lao TPHI), LEARN’s primary partner in Lao PDR, has organized a field visit and workshop on nutrition and MCH status in Lao PDR. The workshop was organised in collaboration with Savannakhet provincial health department and focused on the nutrition status of young children with an additional emphasised on the importance of breastfeeding.

The workshop was held on 26 December 2018 at Savannakhet provincial health department, chaired by Dr. Latsamy Siengsounthone, Deputy Director General of Lao TPHI and Co-chaired by Dr Bongsouvanh Phanthavongsa, Director of Savannakhet provincial health department. LaoTPHI invited as special guest Mr Somphet Inthathilath, Member of Parliament.

Participants of field visit and workshop on nutrition and MCH status in Lao PDR

Two speakers 1) Dr. Khamseng Philavong, Deputy Director of National Nutrition Center and 2) Dr. Latsamy Siengsounthone, DDG of LaoTPHI presented topics as:

1. Nutrition and MCH status in Lao PDR
2. How breastfeeding when mother is not with their child
3. Why breastfeeding is the best

The presentations were followed by presenting the breastfeeding guidelines in Laos, paying attention to creating breastfeeding friendly workplaces for health staff as “Babies of today are the workers for tomorrow”. This all in relation to the labour law where employers are encouraged to give mothers a place and time to continue exclusive breastfeeding while returning to work. This can be done through breastfeeding rooms in workplaces in all sectors, such as government and private sector. Though there is need for awareness raising for mothers and employers.

The presentations were followed by discussion, comments and suggestions on how to implement breastfeeding friendly workplaces to give lactating mothers to provide exclusive breastfeeding and improving the nutrition status of young children.

Participants of the workshop were a total of 41 participants (of which 33 women) from Lao TPHI, National Nutrition Center, Mother and Child Health Center, National Assembly and health staff from 3 provinces namely Khammouane, Savannakhet and Champasack province.

The Meeting started from 08:00 am on 26 December 2018 Nutrition and MCH status in Lao PDR. In addition to the invitation to the workshop Lao TPHI invited Mr Somphet Inthathilath, the Member of Parliament, and the Provincial Health Team to visit the Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture project CANTEEN (Collaboration And Networking To Enhance Education and Nutrition) in Nong District, Savannakhet province. This program (which is also supported through EU funding) is aiming at ‘Better nutrition through local collaboration’ by strengthening the capacity of local civil society organisations (CSO), local authorities and the Provincial Health Department to contribute to nutrition and food security improvements in Nong District, Savannakhet.

The focus of the field visit was to provide Mr. Somphet Inthathilath the chance to talk and listen to lactating mothers and mothers with young children in the community related to their experiences to improve the nutrition status of their families. With nutritious food available mothers can consume nutritious food, that will supports their children with nutritious breastfeeding so they can grow up to healthier and being more resilient when they might get sick.

In this community, most lactating mothers can bring their babies to the field for exclusive breastfeeding. All children, also the ones with working mothers in the government or private sector, should have the chance to receive exclusive breastfeeding through workplace friendly breastfeeding rooms and time to feed the babies. 

Lao TPHI will follow up with Mr. Somphet Inthathilath before his parliamentarian meeting in June 2019 to advocate for breastfeeding friendly workplaces.