주요언론기사자료
2009.10.30 한국정부 지원으로 라오스에 아동병원 착공
Ground broken for first children's hospital
Children aged from one month to 15 years will have better access to healthcare thanks to support from the Republic of Korea in building the first children's hospital in Laos.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the hospital took place in Vientiane on Monday.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of Health Dr Ponmek Dalaloy, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos Park Jae Hyun, Korea International Cooperation Agency to Laos representative Sung Choon Ki, and World Health Organisation representative to Laos Dr Dong-il Ahn.
The cost of the new hospital is more than 29.6 billion kip (US$3.5 million).
It will be named the Lao-Korean National Children's Friendship Hospital and is located in Phonsavang village, Chanthabouly district, near the Mittaphab Hospital .
The total cost includes installation of medical equipment and training for doctors and nurses in the Republic of Korea .
Construction of the facility will begin this month, with a completion date of October 2010. It is expected the hospital will have 160 to 200 medical staff.
The two-storey building will have 70 beds as well as an emergency room, intensive care unit, outpatient and inpatient departments, operating theatres and other departments.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Dr Ponmek said this valuable contribution from the people and government of Korea would surely improve the health of children in Laos .
The referral hospital would provide healthcare services, education, training and research. It would play an important role in reducing child mortality and helping Laos to reach the health-related Millennium Development Goals.
The project is in line with the policy and priorities of the government and will meet the real needs of the multi-ethnic population, he said.
On behalf of the Lao people, the government and Ministry of Health, Dr Ponmek thanked the Korean government for its assistance, saying it would further enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
Mr Hyun said he was pleased the Korean government had chosen to build the first children's hospital in Laos .
Korea had worked closely with the Lao government towards socio-economic development, especially the development of the health and education sectors.
Korea 's contribution included the provision of 2.6 million textbooks to secondary schools, building an ethnic school in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province, and building Souphanouvong University in Luang Prabang province.
“I am confident the new hospital will not only provide the best medical service but will also improve healthcare for children in Laos ,” Mr Hyun said.
By Xayxana Leukai
(Latest Update October 28, 2009)