New mother, child health hospital to open in 2011
One of three planned buildings at the new Mother and Child Health Hospital in Nongphaya village, Xaythany district, Vientiane, is now complete.
The outpatient department has been built and staff expect the second and third buildings, which are currently under construction, to be finished in 2011.
The new two-storey hospital will cover an area of six hectares and contain 150 beds. However, the facility can expand up to 250 beds if patient numbers increase.
The existing 70-bed Mother and Child Health Hospital in Kao-nhot village, Sisattanak district, will be replaced by Mahosot Hospital and converted into more hospital bed space for patients requiring ongoing treatment.
The new outpatient building will include rooms for medical check-ups and emergency examinations, X-ray and ultrasound facilities, laboratories, operating theatres, delivery rooms and neonatal care for mothers and children.
The second building will be for inpatients – those who require ongoing treatment, especially those suffering from cancer and from gynaecological and digestive ailments.
The third building will be for neonatal and post-natal care.
Hospital Director Associate Prof. Dr Bouavanh Sensathit said the government will always prioritise the improvement of health services for mothers and children.
Under the current health policy, the government has provided funding of more than 15 billion kip to build the new hospital.
The Japanese Worldwide Support for Development project provided additional financial support of 4.2 billion kip (US$500,000) for the construction of the third building.
Dr Bouavanh Senhsathit said the construction of the new hospital was in line with the government’s policy of reducing mortality among mothers and newborn children.
A reproductive health survey conducted by the United Nations Population Fund in 2005 found that 405 out of every 100,000 women in Laos die from complications during childbirth. The mortality rate of infants less than one year old is 7 percent, whilst the mortality rate for children under the age of five is 9.8 percent.
The new hospital will support the government’s goal of reducing maternal mortality to 300 deaths in every 100,000 deliveries by 2010.
It also aims to reduce the mortality rate of infants less than one year old to 5.5 percent, and among children under the age of five to 7.5 percent.
The new hospital will employ 300 doctors and nurses, many of whom have trained in Vietnam, France, Switzerland and Thailand.
Dr Bouavanh said at least 100 people a day came for treatment at the existing hospital. The new facility will have the capacity to treat more than 200 patients every day.
The existing hospital opened in 1994 with only 15 beds.
Dr Bouavanh said the new hospital would continue to provide free medical treatment for those experiencing financial hardship.
Since beginning this policy in 2004, the hospital has provided free treatment and daily meals for poor patients and their relatives during hospitalisation.
Source: Vientiane Times
December 19, 2009
