Program and Event

U.S. Donates Protective Equipment to Fight Avian Influenza

Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Harvey Somers hands over PPEs to Dr. Chanthanom Manodham, Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of Public Health

On November 27, 2007, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Harvey Somers represented the U.S. Embassy at the donation of 6,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) worth $75,000 to the Ministry of Health’s National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE) to insure the safety and well being of rapid responders and laboratory personnel in combating the threat of Pandemic Avian Influenza. The PPEs will be distributed to health professionals for the purposes of laboratory detection, outbreak response, and containment functions at the national, provincial, and district levels. Each PPE set includes a mask, gown, booties, gloves, and wipes. The U.S. Government recognizes and applauds continuing efforts by NCLE and the Ministry of Health in addressing those challenges brought on by Avian Influenza. This contribution is part of a larger commitment on the part of the U.S. Government in support of AI pandemic preparedness activities in Laos. To date, the government and people of the United States have donated more than $7 million USD to fight AI in Laos.