Health workers are working very hard to mobilise people for Covid-19 vaccinations in Phongsaly province.

Media helps promote community engagement activities for Covid-19 vaccination

The centre for communication and education on health (CCEH) of the Ministry of Health has organised a media mission to Phongsaly, Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang provinces to promote community engagement activities for Covid-19 vaccination. 
The media mission was supported by the UNICEF, and a team of TV, radio and newspaper reporters visited the provinces during October 8-15 and interviewed officials about Covid-19 control and prevention measures and the use of audio equipment such as loudspeakers, microphones and amplifiers provided by the Division of Finance and Administrative Management (DFAM) and the European Union (EU) through the UNICEF. 
In Phongsaly, the reporters met Dr Bounsaly Chitdaphone, Director of the Health Department of the province, and learnt about the progress and challenges of the Covid-19 response. According to Dr Bounsaly, there are several challenges in mobilising people for the prevention and control of Covid-19, including access to remote rural ethnic villages, culture, tradition and language, and limited access to information.
“Access to information is very important and therefore, we are working with the Information, Culture and Tourism Department of Phongsaly province to broadcast radio spots produced by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and UNICEF through radio and community loudspeakers systems,” said Dr Bousaly. 
“However, access to provincial radio is still limited, and the best way to provide information is through loudspeaker systems donated by UNICEF and other organisations.”
As there are many ethnic communities in Phongsaly, Dr Bousaly said that community engagement activities for Covid-19 vaccination are very important.
“We are working closely with the Lao Front for National Development (LFND), Lao Women’s Union (LWU) and other social organisations to mobilise people to bring their family members for vaccination as people in communities respect and listen to senior people in the villages,” said Dr Bounsaly. 
“In addition, providing information to people through village loudspeaker system is very helpful. We need to set up loudspeaker systems in each community so that the villagers can have daily information about health.” 
So far, thanks to the efforts of health workers, at least 90 percent of the population has received at least one dose or two doses of Covid-19 vaccines and about 30 percent of the population has got a booster shot.
The media team visited Bounneua district and interviewed Dr Chanfong Sengsoulin, Head of the Public Health Office, who said that the local Health Office has received audio equipment and loudspeaker systems from UNICEF through the provincial Health Department for providing information to people.
“The loudspeaker systems are very useful in the dissemination of information on vaccination against Covid-19 to the community. Every morning, information on preventing Covid-19 is broadcast through the community loudspeakers. However, there are still a lot of villages in Bounneua district that do not have access to loudspeaker systems,” said Dr Chanfong.
Mr Souk Sayavong, Head of Phonsay village in Bounneua district, said people were initially cautious about Covid-19 vaccination due to the lack of understanding. 
“Village authorities, including LFND, LWU and health volunteers, explained to people about the importance of Covid-19 vaccination. Village authorities regularly provide information through village loudspeakers, including the broadcasting of radio spots in Lao and ethnic languages. Now more people are coming for vaccination in the district hospital and vaccination points,” said Mr Souk.
An elderly man told the media that he heard about the vaccination campaign through radio and the loudspeakers. The local units of LFND and LWU explained the need of vaccination and he felt safe to bring his family for vaccination.
“Now all my family members and relatives have been vaccinated against Covid-19, and they are safe and healthy! I would like to take this opportunity to urge all the villagers to come for vaccination as this will protect ourselves and our lovely families,” said the elderly man.
According to Ms Chanping Yindalakham, Head of the Health Promotion Division of Phongsaly’s Department of Health, health workers have working very hard to mobilise people for Covid-19 vaccination. However, they have limited staff, funding and equipment and lack transportation to travel to far-off rural ethnic communities. 
“Nevertheless, thanks to the support from UNICEF and other international organisations, health staff have been provided necessary training, including risk communication and community engagement activities. Phongsaly’s Health Department has received 10 sets of loudspeaker systems, 10 LCD projectors and seven mobile speakers for community mobilisation activities,” said Dr Chanping.
The equipment was distributed to seven districts in Phongsaly provinces and is being used effectively to provide information to people.
“Taking this opportunity, we would like to thank all the development partners, particularly UNICEF, for their support for Covid-19 control and prevention. Training, IEC materials, vehicles, IT equipment and loudspeaker systems are very helpful for the responses to the pandemic. We hope to have more support to make sure that all people, particularly ethnic communities in Phongsaly province, are safe and healthy,” said Ms Chanping.
The UNICEF in Laos procured 110 sets of audio equipment, including loudspeakers, using a EU grant and 140 more sets are being procured under a Covid-19 emergency grant. The equipment is being provided to priority districts and villages through the Ministry of Health.
A similar media visit will be conducted to Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang provinces in October.
--Source: UNICEF

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update October 6, 2022)