Press Release
Jan. 23-26, 2012
HE Mr. Saysamone Khomthavong, the Vice-Governor of Luang Prabang Province; Colonel Dr. Bounteun Bandavong, Director of the Military Medical Department; Captain Paul O’Louglhin, Deputy Surgeon, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific; and Lieutenant Colonel James McAde
U.S. Provides Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Workshop to Provincial Military and Civilian Officials from the Northern Provinces
The U.S. Embassy, U.S. Pacific Command and the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE), in a collaborative effort with the National Emerging Infectious Disease Coordinating Office (NEIDCO), the Ministry of Health, and Luang Prabang Province, sponsored a Pandemic Influenza Civil-Military Preparedness Workshop in Luang Prabang, Laos, from January 23-26, 2012.
The workshop was held for military and civilian planners and decision-makers at the national, provincial and district levels, focused on the northern and central provinces. The opening ceremony was attended by HE Mr. Saysamone Khomthavong, the Vice-Governor of Luang Prabang Province; Dr. Bounlay Phommasack, Director of NEIDCO; Colonel Dr. Bounteun Bandavong, Director of the Military Medical Department; Captain Paul O’Louglhin, Deputy Surgeon, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific; and Lieutenant Colonel James McAden, U.S. Defense Attaché to the Lao PDR.
This four-day workshop provides an opportunity for senior Lao civilian and military health planners from the national level to coordinate on Pandemic Influenza planning, response and recovery with provincial civilian and military officials from ten northern and central provinces of Laos, to include Phongsaly, Bokeo, Xieng Khouang, Luang Prabang, Oudomxai, Saiyabouli, Huaphan, Vientiane, Vientiane Capital and Bolikhamsay. This workshop is a comprehensive course focused on Pandemic Influenza, and is entitled “Pandemic Influenza Workshop on Societal Disaster Planning, Response and Recovery”. The concept for this event is to integrate Lao national pandemic planning with provincial and district planning in the northern and central provinces, in a whole of government approach to ensure we are better prepared to cope with a possible infectious disease pandemic.
The workshop utilized recognized subject matter experts to present up to date information on the current infectious disease situation in Lao PDR and the region. Those presentations were followed by table top exercises and case studies to provide participants an opportunity to share information and experiences that have been accumulated during recent pandemic events, from the national to the local levels, within the Lao PDR. More than seventy participants from the northern and central provinces of Laos attended the workshop. The event took place at the Villa Santhi Hotel, Luang Prabang District, Luang Prabang Province.