The Mérieux Foundation took part in Lao PDR National Coordination meeting for AMR surveillance organized by the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 5, 2023.

The attendees comprised representatives from the Department of Communicable Diseases Control (DCDC), NCLE, WHO, WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (WHE), the Mérieux Foundation, LOMRWU and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The group discussed the reinforcement of this coordinated collaboration and its strategic orientations to implement AMR surveillance in Lao PDR.

The meeting aimed to introduce Lao PDR national strategy and protocol for AMR surveillance, share activity workplans to partners who support the implementation of AMR surveillance in the country and plan the coordination’s future.

To this end, the Mérieux Foundation presented several projects conducted in the country to reinforce AMR surveillance, sur as the Fleming Fund Country Grant 2, SEALAB and QWArS projects.

It was agreed during the meeting the necessity to organize AMR coordination meetings twice a year among partners. The participants eventually exchanged on the means to enhance the coordination and cooperation towards the improvement of AMR/C/U surveillance in Lao PDR, to prepare the next national strategic plan for AMR.