Between 4 and 17 August, 4,815 migrant workers who returned home to Lao People’s Democratic Republic tested positive for COVID-19 in Savannakhet Province. Since the provincial hospital was overwhelmed, three isolation facilities were added to accommodate the surge in positive cases and treat those who needed medical attention.
The isolation facilities were set up by the Ministry of Health with support from the provincial government, and partners like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU). Returning workers who test positive and have mild or no symptoms are housed in isolation facilities, while those who test negative go to quarantine centres.
Frontline workers helped to prepare the isolation facility
“Given the current challenging COVID-19 situation in Lao PDR, the EU is very proud to work alongside with the Government, WHO, and other partners to provide emergency support to hospitals, isolations facilities and quarantine centres. This is part of Team Europe’s global response to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, because no one is safe until everyone is safe,” said Ms Ina Marčiulionytė, EU Ambassador to Lao PDR.
Isolation facility at a factory in KM9 Savan Park Special Economic Zone
At one of the isolation facilities, which was once a factory, 21 frontline staff provide health care to more than 1,500 patients. This isolation facility was equipped with emergency medical equipment. Returning workers were segregated into different zones based on their health conditions and symptoms.
Specific zones were created for returnees with urgent medical needs.
The staff at the isolation facility were rostered in three rotations to monitor patients’ health and provide medical care and mental health support as well as support basic needs such as serving of food.
Working behind-the-scenes to provide health messages
Mr Thipphakoson Souvanhsordachanh, also known as Noi, is a Health Education Officer from Savanhnakhet Provincial Health Department who has been working hard behind-the-scenes to smoothen the transition on their return to home. Noi visits quarantine centers and isolation facilities to deliver health education messages to returning workers.
“We try to do everything to help returnees learn preventive measures like regular handwashing, physical distancing, and get vaccinated. There are three staff here in the health promotion team and we work together to disseminate messages to communities so that they understand COVID-19 transmission and do not discriminate against the returning workers,” Noi said.
Mr Noi provides information to COVID-19 patients at the isolation facilities in Savannakhet College of Health Science.
Recovered patients will receive a certificate that they are cleared to go home. This proof helps those affected to face less stigma or discrimination when they returned home.
Those who recover from COVID-19 receive their certificate before returning to their village.
“WHO is pleased to work with partners like the EU to support the Government of Lao PDR to ensure that migrant workers can return home safely and are welcomed back in their communities without having to face stigma and discrimination,” said Dr Jun Gao, WHO Officer-in-Charge in Lao PDR.