Save the Children, 2023

Implementing Partners: Save the Children, Government of Lao PDR, World Health Organization

Published In: COP28 Prospectus of Climate-Health Solutions, 2023

Strengthening the climate resilience of health systems across Lao PDR through the first-ever large-scale Green Climate Fund (GCF) investment across all ten building blocks of climate resilient and low carbon health systems.

Context

Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) faces significant vulnerability to climate change, with projections of heightened climate extremes, 2–3°C increase in temperature by 2050, and a potential 10–30% rise in rainfall, particularly in the southern regions. These anticipated climate shifts are poised to directly impact the healthcare sector by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, thereby causing damage to critical health infrastructure, notably the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Additionally, they will also indirectly contribute to the proliferation of diseases such as dengue and diarrheal illnesses, significantly burdening the healthcare system. 

Approach

Awarded in October 2023, this project signifies a pioneering endeavour as the first-ever Green Climate Fund (GCF) climate and health initiative. Its primary objective is to reinforce the Government of Laos’ commitment to advancing its national climate change and health priorities. The project employs a multi-pronged strategy to bolster both the healthcare system and community resilience to climate change impacts in Lao PDR, including the following: 

  • Strengthening climate-resilient leadership and governance within the healthcare system, including the development and dissemination of guidelines for implementing the Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP) at provincial, district, and health facility levels.
  • Enhancing health information systems by:
    • Incorporating climate data relevant to diseases such as dengue and diarrheal diseases in the Health Information Management System (RHIMS)
    • Increasing the capacity of healthcare workers to plan and respond to early disease outbreaks, and
    • Establishing climate-resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) standards throughout the healthcare system
  • Improving health service delivery in health facilities and communities in climate-vulnerable rural districts to better manage climate-related disease burdens, by:
    • Strengthening the capacity of health workers to detect, reduce risk and treat climate-related diseases
    • Implementing Safe Clean Green Hospitals Initiative and Climate-Resilient WASH standards in health facilities
    • Conducting GHG emissions and infrastructure quality assessments at health facilities
    • Upgrading electrical and WASH services to be climate-resilient in health facilities.
  • Enhancing community knowledge and capacity to respond to climate-related health challenges through the development of communication channels and early warning messages.

The project was initiated by the Lao Ministry of Health, alongside  Save the Children and WHO. The target districts were identified based on aclimate vulnerability assessment by the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), in coordination with MOH, MONRE’s Department of Climate Change, international NGOs, and Lao PDR universities. The project  engages communities in activities that will improve health workers’ and community knowledge of climate change impacts on health, while also co-developing and implementing context-appropriate strategies to manage and mitigate climate-related health risks, prepare for extreme weather events, and respond appropriately to early warnings.  

The project is supported by grants totaling USD 28.2 million, sourced from the Green Climate Fund and co-financing contributions from the Government of Laos’ Ministry of Health, WHO, and a private donor. 

Impact and next steps

The project will help accelerate the paradigm shift for community action and climate-informed advisory and risk management services for diseases like dengue and diarrheal diseases. Additionally, it will also achieve the co-benefit of reduced emissions from health facilities by  upgrading infrastructure and enhancing service delivery. 

 

The project aims to reach over 25% of the Lao population (1.85 million people), covering twenty-five of the most climate vulnerable districts. It places strong emphasis on both national and subnational health sector governance, including tools like the RHIMS, which will directly enhance healthcare governance and facilitate cost-effective service improvements. 

 

The project’s subnational activities are purposefully designed to provide the Government of Lao with a proven model, ready for nationwide scaling. Climate-informed sectoral strategies, policies, and guidelines will be made accessible to all healthcare services across the country. Furthermore, the project will disseminate information about this model through global knowledge-sharing and learning events, offering opportunities for neighbouring countries in the Southeast Asia region and beyond to replicate this approach and bolster resilience in their healthcare systems.