Minister Bettel in Laos Day 3: Hospital, Clinic Visits, Reception

On Wednesday 7 February 2024, day three of Luxembourg's Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Xaviel Bettel, visit to Laos in south-east Asia, the visit saw the minister and delegation visit the Maria Teresa Hospital and a Family Planning Clinic.

Maria Teresa Hospital

At the hospital, which was founded in 2003 with a USD 4 million budget (for the building and medical equipment) financed in part to contributions from Luxembourg, the Minister and the delegation were welcomed by Laos' Minister of Health and the Governor. It is named after the Grand Duchess who formally opened the facility in 2003 - there is a photograph of her cutting the ribbon displayed prominently in the building's foyer.

It has a reference population of just over 400,000 across eleven districts and 45 health centres; it offers 100 beds and is staffed by 150 civil servants and 100 students in nursing and midwifery. It is supported by a network of local clinics through the province.

In 2023, the hospital experience a 136% occupancy, necessitating an extra 36 temporary beds. There were 32,00 outpatients and 10,300 inpatients. The hospital conducted 1,500 facility-based deliveries including 320 caesarean sections, and also 1,800 surgical procedures / operations. 

It has received an additional investment of USD 4.6 million which is funding an expansion up to 150 beds, as well as USD 1.054 million worth of new medical equipment.

A guided tour of the premises included the current emergency room, the new delivery room in maternity, a new laboratory and OPD, as well as the construction site of the new ICU / ER facility. 

The Health and Nutrition programme has a budget of around €32.5 million over five years, it emphasises Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, with the overarching goal to ensure Lao people have affordable, accessible and high-quality essential health services. 

Thalat Village Family Planning Clinic

The minister and delegation moved on to Thalat where they observed UNFPA activities, specifically a family planning clinic. This is a new programme started last year with funding from Luxembourg. While currently they just receive a few couples daily, they expect numbers to grow as the facility becomes better known and more popular. It is supported by a five-year programme costing USD 500,000.

Reception

The day concluded in Vientiane with a reception given for the Luxembourgish community and close partners of the Cooperation in Laos.

Held in an outdoor courtyard, Luxembourg's Ambassador to Laos, Patrick Hemmer, remarked that there are a lot of friend of Luxembourg in Laos. He introduced Minister Bettel who stated that those attending were either Luxembourgish or came from Luxembourg, or chose to either live or work in Laos. He remarked that the links between Luxembourg and Laos are real as he said "we can see what is happening on the ground". He added that in these two days he has learnt that it takes 75 years to make the land safe after war, in reference to the demining initiative. He said that he was very proud to be in Brussels last year when all countries agreed that Ukraine is the victim and Russia is the aggressor. 

He also mentioned about making connections, referencing education and healthcare. He mentioned calls to stop supporting development aid, which he countered by arguing that development aid is about investing in the future. He concluded by thanking all the teams that work on the ground and raise awareness of Luxembourg.

The evening continued with a walking buffet dinner.