Lao PDR actions done

1. Lao PDR actions done By Mr Soukata Vichit (Director General Of Environment Department) 2. Dr Tayphasavanh Fengthong (Chief of Environmental Health Division, DHP, MoH) Second High Level Meeting on Health and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand, 12-13 December 2005

2. Lao PDR actions done • Establish and/or strengthen an institutional mechanism for health and environment sectors to work together, such as MOU/MOA: • Reviewed the existing National Environment Committee (NEC) • Develop a mechanism to share information (including the EHCP and EHDS) • Improved EHCP and EHDS and fed back to WHO • Convene a National Forum on Environment and Health, involving other stakeholders on a regular basis: • Organized a National Forum on Environment and Health Links, Thalad, Vientiane Province, 21-22 July 2005

3. National Environment Committee Chairperson: Vice Prime Minister Deputy Chairperson: President of STEA And Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Members: Vice-Ministers of Health, Industry and Handicraft, CTPC, Education, Finance, Trade, Justice and Vice President of Lao Youth Union, Trade Union, Lao Women Union Secretariat: DG of Environment

4. National Environment Committee • Established by the end of 2002 • Meet twice a year

5. Lao PDR actions done • Conduct joint training involving health and environment sectors at all levels: • Conducted a Workshop and Training course for the Study on Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollution in Lao PDR, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 15-26 September 2005 • Conducted a Technical Workshop on Guideline Drinking Water Quality and Water Safety Plan for the key people from concerned organizations, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 20-21 October 2005

6. Lao PDR actions done • Conduct joint training involving health and environment sectors at all levels: • Participated in the Workshop on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Linkages to Health: Methodology and training, Manila, Philippines, 15-18 November 2005 • Participated in the Scientific Conference on Asia Pacific Environmental Health, Bangkok, Thailand, 8-11 December 2005

7. Lao PDR actions done • Undertake collaborative research programs between Environment and Health agencies: • Conducted a Survey on Drinking Water Quality in 13 Provinces including arsenic • Conducted a Study on Environment Quality Standard • Joint Study on Environment and Health Impact Assessments of using mercury for the traditional gold mining activities in 2 districts in Luanprabang Province, with Department of Mining, Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, supported by UNIDO • Conducted a joint study on water and sanitation with Environment Research Institute, STEA, supported by World Bank

8. Lao PDR actions done • Integrate Health Impact Assessment into EIA: • Developed Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Policy and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval and to be incorporated into Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) • Incorporate EH in educational programs/ professional/school curriculum: • Approved a Regulation on Drinking Water Quality Standard Management by Minister of Health, printed and disseminated • Monitored/evaluated the cyanide problems in the mining project at a Special Region, and provided a guidance • Incorporated EH into curriculum especially at primary schools including improving safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene practices

9. Lao PDR actions done • Develop a framework on environmental health (like National Environmental Health Action Plans: - Drafted a National Environment and Health Action Plan

10. Lao PDR Future actions • Strengthen institutional capacity: • Develop an Environment and Health Policy/Strategy including a Master Plan • Develop, pretest and improve environmental health risk assessment tools • Conduct a laboratory assessment (WHO) • Develop a mechanism to share information (including the EHCP and EHDS) • Improve EHCP and EHDS and distribute to concerned organizations (GoL) • Create a website on environmental health

11. Lao PDR future actions • Convene a National Forum on Environment and Health, involving other stakeholders on a regular basis: • Conduct 2 Regional Forums on Environment and Health • Conduct joint training involving health and environment sectors at all levels: • Conduct 2 regional training courses on environmental health risk assessment and management • Conduct 2 regional training courses on health care waste management for district hospital staffs • Conduct a Technical Workshop on Guideline Drinking Water Quality and Water Safety Plan (WHO) • Conduct a training course on water quality surveillance (WHO)

12. Lao PDR future actions • Undertake collaborative research programs between Environment and Health agencies: • Conduct an assessment on water, sanitation and hygiene linkages to health (?WHO, ?WSP-EAP, ?UNICEF, ?JICA, ?NGO’s) • Conduct a study on health effects of indoor air pollution in 2 provinces (?WHO) • Continue to carry out a Survey on Drinking Water Quality in the remaining provinces (UNICEF) • Continue to conduct a Study on Environment Quality Standard (SIDA) • Conduct an assessment of Dioxin (SIDA) • Conduct a study on PCB (GEF and SIDA)

13. Lao PDR future actions • Integrate Health Impact Assessment into EIA: • Follow up Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Policy • Incorporate EH in educational programs/ professional/school curriculum: • Disseminate a Regulation on Drinking Water Quality Standard Management through meeting/workshop (?UNICEF, ?WSP-EAP) including translation into English version • Improve safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene practices at primary schools (UNICEF)

14. Lao PDR future actions • Incorporate EH in educational programs/ professional/school curriculum (cont): • Carry out public education on mercury use for the traditional gold mining activities in 2 districts of Luangprabang Province, in collaboration with Department of Mining, Ministry of Industry and Handicraft (?UNIDO) • Develop, pretest, improve and produce posters, brochures on environment and health • Aware the public on environmental health through media: TV, Radio, Newpapers

15. Thank You For Your Kind Attention