The United States Embassy and United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) formally presented two new District Hospitals to the following two districts: Viengthong District, Bolikhamxay Province and Xaibuathong District, Khammouane Province. The handover ceremonies were held on May 15, 2014 in Bolikhamxay Province and on May 16, 2014 in Khammouane Province. These projects are new district hospital buildings, on the sites of existing functional hospitals. These new facilities will greatly enhance both Provincial Public Health Department’s ability to provide health services to the people of their respective Provinces. The combined cost of the projects is almost 900,000 U.S. dollars.
The handover ceremony in Bolikhamxay was attended by the Vice Governor of Bolikhamxay Province, HE Ms. Bounyong Sisouvannakhone; Mr. Southam Sakonhninhom, Director General of Europe-Americas Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Sengtavanh Keokaenchanh, Office Technical Staff, Ministry of Public Health; LTC Somkhit Sisomphoe, Deputy Director of Europe-America Division, Ministry of National Defense; as well as other officials from Bolikhamxay province and Viengthong District.
The handover ceremony in Khammouane was attended by the Vice Governor of Khammouane Province, HE Mr. Somchay Phetsinouane; Mr. Southam Sakonhninhom, Director General of Europe-Americas Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Sengtavanh Keokaenchanh, Office Technical Staff, Ministry of Public Health; LTC Somkhit Sisomphoe, Deputy Director of Europe-America Division, Ministry of National Defense; as well as other officials from Khammouane province and Xaibuathong District.
Representing the U.S. Embassy were HE Mr. Daniel A. Clune, U.S Ambassador to Laos; Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Kent, Defense Attaché; and several other members of the US Embassy staff.
The U.S. Embassy, in coordination with U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), has provided humanitarian assistance projects in rural areas of Laos for over fifteen years as part of the joint recovery effort to search for remains of Americans missing from the Indochina War. These projects have included primary schools, medical clinics, irrigation systems and clean water supply systems. They are part of the continuing cooperation and partnership between U.S. Pacific Command, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of National Defense to help strengthen the overall health and education systems in the Lao PDR and ultimately contribute to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals.
