China, Lao PDR, and UNICEF Celebrate Landmark Success in Strengthening Child Well-being and Protection

VIENTIANE, 30 January 2026 – The Government of the Lao PDR, the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today officially marked the successful conclusion of a comprehensive programme dedicated to enhancing child protection and well-being services across the country.

Supported by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), this initiative represents a significant milestone in South-South cooperation, providing critical resources to strengthen Lao PDR’s national systems for health, nutrition, and protection of its most vulnerable children.

“The successful implementation of this programme is a testament to the enduring partnership among the Lao PDR, the Government of China, and UNICEF,” said H.E. Mme. Baykham Khattiya, the Minister of Health. “By strengthening our health systems from the central to the provincial level, we are building a more resilient future for every Lao child.”

The high-impact project strengthened 18 child protection facilities to modernize case management through delivered critical ICT and office infrastructure, and 19 hospitals to drastically reduce infant mortality through lifesaving medical equipment - including neonatal resuscitation tables and CPAP machines. Furthermore, China’s contribution supported combating acute malnutrition and improve living standards for children across nine provinces through over 7,700 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and essential hygiene kits.

“This programme reflects the deep-rooted friendship and practical cooperation between China and the Lao PDR,” stated H.E. Mdm. Fang Hong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Lao PDR. “By aligning with the priorities of the Lao Government, we are contributing to a community with a shared future, ensuring that the benefits of development reach women and children directly.”

The programme built upon UNICEF-supported COVID-19 initiatives, transitioning from emergency response to long-term system development. By focusing on mental health, psychosocial support, child abuse and gender-based violence (GBV) services, the partnership has created a sustainable framework for child welfare.

“This collaboration demonstrates how government leadership and China's support is delivering concrete, measurable results,” said Mr. Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani, UNICEF Country Representative to Lao PDR. “Our priority is now to ensure that these gains are integrated into national systems so that every child in Lao PDR, regardless of where they live, has access to the protection and care they deserve.”

The ceremony concluded with a joint reaffirmation from UNICEF and government partners to sustain these achievements and continue the mission of ensuring the wellbeing of every child in the Lao PDR.

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Notes:

A Multi-Sectoral Impact for Every Child

The cooperation addressed urgent government priorities through targeted investments in three key areas:

1. Strengthening Child Protection and Counseling To ensure survivors of violence and at-risk families receive high-quality care, the programme provided comprehensive ICT equipment and office furniture to 18 facilities. This includes:

• The Central Lao Women’s Union (LWU) Counseling and Protection Center for women and children.
• 17 provincial women union offices nationwide, improving case management and helpline services for issues regarding trafficking and child marriage.

2. Lifesaving Health and Neonatal Care Substantial medical equipment was delivered to 19 designated hospitals (2 central and 17 provincial), including:

• Neonatal Support: 18 resuscitation tables, 18 CPAP machines, 18 bilirubin meters, 18 phototherapy LED units, 18 infusion pumps, 39 neonate resuscitators, 95 Pulse oximeter sets, and Reusable SpO2 Neonatal probe sensor 190 pcs.
• Maternal & Child Care: 739 Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) beds and 5,000 KMC kits.
• Capacity Building: Distribution of national clinical guidelines, including 2,600 IMNCI (Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness) manuals, 550 IMNCI Supervision Module, 600 Oxygen Therapy Manuals, 350 sets of Oxygen Therapy Job Aids, 106 Pneumonia Posters, 4,200 Danger Signs and 4,200 Diarrhea Management Leaflets.

3. Integrated Nutrition and Hygiene Support The project tackled acute malnutrition and hygiene in institutional settings through:

• Nutrition Supplies: 7,723 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), 240 tins of therapeutic milk (F-75 and F-100), ReSoMal, and 8,000 bottles of Amoxicillin to treat 4725 children with severe acute malnutrition during the project period.
• Community Screening: 5,000 MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) tapes and the printing of SOP guidelines for early identification of malnutrition.
• School Hygiene: Essential supplies for children in 15 ethnic boarding schools, three monastic schools, and one orphanage across nine provinces, promoting healthy environments for learning for almost 8,000 Children.