25th SEA Games, Laos

(KPL) The Wattana Hospital Group (Nongkhai and Udon Thani) presented one ambulance and medical equipment, totally worth 306 million kip, to the Ministry of Public Health to support the service of Lao medical officials during the 25th SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane on 9-18 December.

The handover of the package was held on 19 November at the Ministry of Public Health in Vientiane Capital and was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Public Health of the Lao PDR, Dr. Eksavang Vongvichith, Thai Ambassador to Laos Mr. Wiboon Khusakul and relevant officials of both sides.

The package was presented by President of Wattana Hospital Group (Nongkhai and Udon Thani) Dr. Phimphath Taugseubkoun and received by Head of the Secretariat on Medicine and Performance Enhancing Drug Control, Dr Chanphomma Vongsamphanh.
At the ceremony Dr. Chanphomma expressed his heartfelt thanks to the donor Wattana Hospital Group (Nongkhai and Udon Thani) for its assistance to support the 25th SEA Games.

(KPL) In its attempt to be a good host of the upcoming 25th SEA Games, the Ministry of Public Health has prepared 500 medical staff and an emergency medical team for serving the participating athletes.

The Ministry of Public Health organised a training course for medical staff in Vientiane Capital from 7 September to 9 October.

Deputy-Minister of Public Health, Prof. Dr. Eksavang Vongvichith who is also Chairman of the 25th SEA Games Committee for Medical and Stimulus Substance Control, said that, ?the emergency medical team was very vital for the 25th SEA Games that would prove the standard of Lao medical skills?.

The medical staffs have been divided into ten groups and each group would be trained for two days.

In the one-month training, they would learn both theory and practice of first aids, emergency aid and medical emergency.

More than 250 Lao doctors, nurses and students from various medical facilities around Vientiane will provide medical services at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December.

Member of the National Olympic Committee of Laos and Chairman of the Medical Anti-Doping Commission, Dr Alongkone Phengsavanh, said on Monday the team will be divided into three groups for medical services, food safety issues and doping tests.

The doctors come from major hospitals in Vientiane including Mahosot, Mittaphab, Setthathirath, 103 and 109 and the University of Health Sciences . Some will provide emergency medical services for athletes injured while competing, while others will specialise in assisting athletes with physical rehabilitation to recover from minor injuries.

Dr Alongkone said about 80 doctors and nurses will take part in training courses next month to learn more about doping tests.

In addition, doctors and nurses in major hospitals will be on stand-by 24 hours a day to provide emergency medical services for everyone during the games.

“Even though it will be the first time we've hosted the SEA Games, we are confident our team can provide effective and efficient services, as we have already proven when we hosted other big events such as the Asean Summit in 2004,” Dr Alongkone said.

By Sangkhomsay Bouphanouvong
vientiane times