Lao PDR strengthens efforts toward schistosomiasis elimination with high-level visit to Champasack Province

Khong District, Champasack Province, 13–14 November 2025

Senior officials from the Ministry of Health of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and World Health Organization (WHO) undertook a high-level field visit to Champasack Province to review progress toward schistosomiasis elimination.

Schistosomiasis is caused by parasitic worms carried by snails and transmitted through contaminated water often used for daily activities. The disease remains a significant public health concern in southern Champasack Province, affecting an estimated 120 000 people in 202 high-risk villages across Khong and Mounlapamok Districts. Left untreated, it can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, blood in the stool and liver enlargement is common in advanced cases.

The delegation was led by HE Mme Baykham Khatthiya, Minister of Health of the Lao PDR, and included Mr Jean-Gabriel Duss, Regional Director for the SDC in the Mekong Region; and Dr Timothy Armstrong, WHO Representative to Lao PDR. The visit included stops at local households, schools, and health centres in Khong District, where participants witnessed ongoing activities to improve sanitation, deliver mass drug administration, and conduct community awareness campaigns.

The mission followed the launch of the trilateral cooperation in April 2025, when the China Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund (GDF) and the SDC, in partnership with WHO, jointly announced US$1.18 million to support the elimination of schistosomiasis in Lao PDR.

“The elimination of schistosomiasis will be another proud milestone in Lao PDR’s journey toward a healthier future,” said Mme Baykham Khatthiya, Minister of Health. “This visit shows how local dedication, with the strong support of international partners such as China, Switzerland, and WHO, can make disease elimination a reality. The Ministry of Health remains committed to building on these achievements to eliminate communicable diseases and protect the health of all Lao people.”

Support from China’s GDF and the SDC has enabled more than 95 000 people to receive treatment with praziquantel, the medicine that cures schistosomiasis. This medication, combined with enhanced health education, sanitation improvements, and community-led water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) initiatives, has helped ensure that prevention efforts remain sustainable for communities in Champasack Province.

“Seeing the work at the community level, from the active WASH committees to the dedication of local health workers, reminds us that important progress in public health begins with the empowerment of people, communities, and local institutions. This field visit highlights how cooperation between nations, organizations, and communities creates real change for the better,” said Mr Jean-Gabriel Duss, Regional Director for the SDC in the Mekong Region. “Switzerland is glad to be part of advancing efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis and promote resilient communities in Lao PDR.”

The impact of this joint effort goes beyond disease elimination — it builds community resilience and strengthens health systems to better detect and respond to climate-sensitive threats like diarrhoeal and vector-borne diseases.

“The progress is a testament to the country’s strong leadership and the continued support of key partners, including China and Switzerland,” said Dr Timothy Armstrong, WHO Representative to Lao PDR. “WHO is proud to work alongside the Government and partners to sustain these gains and ensure that communities remain free from schistosomiasis in the years ahead.”

Through strong multi-sectoral collaboration — involving the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment — Lao PDR is integrating treatment, education, improved sanitation, and strengthening disease surveillance. With these coordinated efforts, the country is moving steadily toward ending the spread of schistosomiasis by 2035 — an achievable milestone that reflects the continued efforts of the people of Lao PDR to eliminate yet another communicable disease.