A group of Australian parliamentarians has arrived in Laos to see first-hand how Australian-funded programs are helping communities adapt to health and development challenges.
Hon Kate Thwaites MP, Andrew Wallace MP, Dai Le MP, Jodie Belyea MP and Senator Leah Blyth will spend five days travelling across Laos to visit a range of NGO-supported programs, including projects that address some of the country's most significant challenges.
The delegation will take part in the release of a swarm of dengue-fighting mosquitos, grown in a Melbourne lab, dried and shipped for release in Vientiane, as part of a life-saving program developed in collaboration between the Australian and Lao Governments, World Mosquito Program, and Save the Children.
Between January and November 2023, there were around 13,500 cases of dengue in children aged under 18, out of a total of around 35,500 cases. This means children accounted for about 40% of dengue cases in the country, according to the Lao Ministry of Health.
The parliamentarians will also see the work of vaccination programs funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Australian Government, and visit locally-led programs working to empower women and girls, including those with disabilities.
With Laos on the frontline of the climate crisis, the delegation will also hear directly from communities tackling rising climate-fueled health threats, while also gaining insight into the country's disaster preparedness and resilience programs, including work to increase access to education and healthcare.
Save the Children Australia CEO Mat Tinkler says children and communities in Laos are increasingly vulnerable to health threats such as dengue and malaria, intensified by the climate crisis, with far-reaching impacts on family livelihoods and access to basic services.
"This learning tour is an important opportunity for our representatives to connect with communities in our region and see first-hand the power of Australian development assistance to strengthen resilience in children and their families.
"This trip is particularly vital this year, set against a global environment where the value of aid is being questioned. These parliamentarians will carry back to Canberra a first-hand understanding of the profound impact of our overseas development efforts — not just to save lives, but to build enduring international relationships and elevate Australia's role as a principled and engaged global partner."
The Australian Regional Leadership Initiative is a Save the Children Australia project, made possible by the Gates Foundation. Since 2015, Save the Children has delivered 17 learning tours to countries including Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Cambodia, Fiji, Kenya, Solomon Islands, Indonesia and Vanuatu.
