WHO LAO PDR and Lao PDR Ministry of Health have done great efforts in the past years to erradicate malaria from within its borders. The last stronghold for this parasite in the country is in Attapeu province in some really localized sectors where many people live close to or inside wild forest areas. With the great effort of local community volunteers, Volunteer Malaria Workers (VMW), have helped to build a rapid test and treatment network which helps the early stop for community outbreaks and front line treatment for infected people. A type of malaria in the region can still be deadly if left untreated. Medical treatments of infected farmers and pasive protection, such as mosquito nets ( the mosquito transmiting malaria is active from dusk till down) are key to erradicate the parasite transmition.

I did this photos while working with WHO Lao PDR on October 2022

Mrs. Khounmy, a village malaria worker, performs malaria tests to suspected cases in her community and distributes mosquito nets.

Mr. Bounoiy, a village malaria worker, lives with his family at a temporary site near the forest.

Some farmers live near
the forest during harvest
season of cassava
crops and rice.
These areas are in
high risk for contracting
malaria due to the
closeness to the forest.

Many farmers live for months at a time in remote areas they have cleared in the forest where they harvest dry rice and casava. Living within the wild forest boundaries makes them a risk population from contracting malaria and start an outbreak. This is why the local Malaria Volunteer Workers task is so crucial in the effort to erradicate the parasite.
Mainly dry rice and casava crops are grown in the cleared lands within the forests.


Mrs. Pern is a rice farmer from Ta-oum Village who had malaria, lives in the forest area with her family from March to November. Some farmers live near the forest during the harvest season of cassava crops and rice. These areas are in high risk for contracting malaria due to the closeness to the forest.


 
 
 

Sanamxai, Attapeu Province