Speeches Shim
Continuing the United States’ leading support to the Lao PDR in its mission to eliminate malaria by 2030, U.S. Ambassador to Laos Rena Bitter presented 100,000 rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits to Dr. Phouthone Muoangpak, Vice Minister of Health, at a handover ceremony in Vientiane on December 6. These test kits, provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), will be distributed to health facilities throughout the country, especially in areas with high malaria transmission.
The United States continues to help Lao PDR strengthen the country’s agricultural sector through a broad range of programs. Most recently, the United States and the Lao government launched the “Laos Microenterprise Project”, which is funded by the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). On October 4, 2019, the Lao Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ACDI/VOCA, USAID’s implementing partner for the project.
Continuing the United States’ proud tradition of partnering with the Government of the Lao PDR to help those with disabilities on September 24-25, 2019, U.S. Ambassador Rena Bitter joined Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Madame Baiykham Kattiya in leading a delegation to visit a disabilities inclusion project site in Xieng Khouang Province supported by the United States.
On September 13, 2019, U.S. Ambassador Rena Bitter announced a Disaster Declaration, and the immediate release of $100,000 in emergency relief in flood-affected areas of southern Laos. The people of the United States are concerned about the ongoing floods in southern Laos and are proud to support the people of the Lao PDR during this difficult time.
The United States continues its broad support for education and opportunity in Laos. On August 30 the U.S. Embassy formally launched a new basic education program in Laos with the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to officially begin a five-year “Learn to Read” program. The MOUs between the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports and implementing partners Save the Children and Room to Read mark the beginning of implementation for this important new program that is funded by the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Continuing the United States deep support of the Lao health sector U.S. Ambassador to Lao PDR Rena Bitter presented more than 174,000 additional mosquito nets to Mr. Khamphone Phoutthavong, Deputy Minister of Health, at a ceremony in Vientiane on July 9. These mosquito nets will be distributed to families in rural areas of the southern province of Champasak, where the number of malaria cases remains high.
The United States continues to play a leading role in helping to improve the well-being of people with disabilities in Laos. On May 16, 2019 in Vientiane, the Lao PDR and World Education Laos signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand programs, which will increase the self-reliance of people with disabilities through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Okard program, a five-year initiative funded by the U.S. Government and implemented by World Education.
On March 22, 2019, officials from the Governments of Laos and the United States celebrated the successful completion of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) LUNA II project at a ceremony at the Lao Plaza Hotel in Vientiane. The event, co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Commerce Khemmani Pholsena, and U.S. Ambassador Rena Bitter, highlighted USAID LUNA II’s achievements over the project’s five years of implementation. More than 40 representatives from the Lao government, U.S. Embassy, and private sector attended the celebration.
On February 26, 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) officially launched a new consumer protection website developed with support from the United States government. The website, made possible with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will help protect consumers from unfair business practices.
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