Lao PDR launches national master training to ensure Safe, Clean, Green, and Climate-Resilient health centers

The Lao Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Lao PDR and Save the Children International in Laos (SCiL) with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), has launched a groundbreaking training programme to strengthen the safety, cleanliness, environmental sustainability, and climate-resilience of health centers across Lao PDR.

Aiming to establish a national cadre of master trainers, water, sanitation and climate change specialists, and health facility managers, the training equips experts with the tools and knowledge to assess vulnerabilities, plan improvements, and implement practical solutions that enhance health service delivery in the face of climate change. 

“Lao PDR is projected to experience more extreme weather, a 10– 30% increase in rainy season rainfall and temperature increases of 2–3 °C by 2050,” said Dr Viengkhan Phixay, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health’s Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion. “Health facilities are on the frontlines of climate impacts. This training empowers our health workforce to protect communities by making health centers safer, greener, and more resilient.” 

“The people and health system of Lao PDR are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and action is essential,” said Dr Christopher Fitzpatrick, WHO Lao PDR’s Deputy Representative. “Creating safe, clean, and climate-resilient health facilities is essential to enhance healthcare capacity, protect community health, and deliver reliable, sustainable health services in a changing climate.”

Twenty master trainers have completed their training and are ready to begin, utilizing WHO-developed guidance, tools, and training modules specifically tailored the Lao context, and adapted for easy use by health centers. Provincial and district-level training will commence in Oudomxay in mid-September 2025. 

WHO staff facilitated the training sessions, and incorporated participant feedback to finalize the tools before they are deployed for use by health centers and health center staff.  

The training integrates the WHO WASH FIT (Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool) with climate risk assessments, energy efficiency strategies, and infrastructure planning. Participants utilized tools to identify climate and water-related hazards and risks to health, and developed a plan for strengthening health center staff capacity and reducing health facilities climate vulnerability. 

The training also promotes low-cost, locally appropriate solutions that improve water, sanitation, energy, and waste management in health facilities—contributing to both health outcomes and environmental protection.

“We are already seeing more frequent floods, droughts, and extreme weather events,” said Ms Bounthanom, Deputy Head of the Environmental Health and Water Division of the Ministry of Health’s Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion. 

“Health centers must be ready to respond and build resilience – this training gives our teams the tools to prepare and adapt, with an easy-to-use approach where trainees provide their inputs, and develop realistic improvement plans tailored to local needs.”

“The focus on practical, low-cost solutions is key to scaling this great initiative to the health center level,” said Kuber Adhikari, Health System Advisor, SCi Laos. “We need approaches that work in remote and resource-limited settings. Over the next four years, we look forward to collaboratively supporting more than 100 health facilities, with training and equipment in line with health center climate resilience plans developed as a result of this training programme, with GCF’s generous support.”

“This is a vital step toward climate-resilient health systems,” Dr Oyuntogos Lkhasuren, WHO Lao PDR’s Climate and Environment Team Lead. “WHO is proud to support this initiative, which aligns with global goals for universal health coverage and climate action. Importantly, it shows how climate action and health system strengthening can go hand in hand – something more critical than ever before.” 

Over the coming years, a cascade model will be used as part of this training programme, ensuring sustainability by building local capacity at provincial and district levels. The program will be piloted in climate-vulnerable provinces such as Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, Khammouane, Salavanh and Xekong Provinces, with plans for a national scale-up.