- Projects: Thalassemia treatment and Child Health Foundation course
- Responsible body: Friends Without A Border
- Supported since 2016/2019
The Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC), opened in 2015, is the first of its kind in Laos; a hospital operated by and for the people of Laos. It was and is financed entirely from foundation and donation funds and is independent of, but in constant communication with, the Luang Prabang State Hospital. Here you can watch a video of the 5-year anniversary of the hospital (~10 min).
Since 2016 Moving Child supports the LFHC with annual financial contributions. Moving Child initially supported the department for the treatment of thalassemia, an anaemia caused by malformation and increased red blood cell breakdown. Thalassemia is a hereditary disease that occurs frequently in the North of Laos and, if left untreated, leads to developmental disorders, damage to the heart and lungs and enlargement of the spleen, which can have life-threatening consequences in children. You can find more information on our blog.
Since 2019, Moving Child has been supporting the children’s hospital’s educational program (the ‘Child Health Foundation course’), which was stimulated and is fully funded by Moving Child. The teaching program at the LFHC consists of two essential pillars: patient education and the training of specialist staff. In particular, the sustainable concept of in-house teaching and training events has fascinated us from the start. The main aim of the LFHC’s educational program is to strengthen the independence and autonomy of the Laotian doctors, but also of the nursing staff.
“We were enthusiastic about the motivation and commitment of everyone involved in this project. The independence that is being trained here and the sustainability of this project are exemplary and have deeply impressed us.”
Anna, Gertraud, Ella (Moving Child Team)
The teaching program includes daily topic-related lectures and discussion groups, structured English lessons, exchange with international experts and is based on the learning-by-doing concept. This approach is reflected in the fact that international experts are allowed to teach and assist, but the practical work is done by local doctors. Especially important is the emphasis on ‘training for trainers’: The medical staff is trained not only to practically apply the knowledge they have acquired, but above all to pass it on to a new generation of future doctors. The influence, and thus the dependence on international experts, is slowly diminishing and the independence of the Laotian staff is being promoted.
Back to project overview.
