Press coverage of this event was also published in the Vientiane Times.
In conjunction with World Malaria Day, the Communicable Disease Department, Ministry of Health of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), with the support of Global Fund Advocates Network Asia-Pacific (GFAN AP), Global Health Advocates (GHA) and Community Health and Inclusion Association (CHIAs) hosted an engagement event in Vientiane attended by over 40 representatives from ministries, international partners, diplomatic missions, communities, and civil society.
The event emphasised the importance of collective efforts to strengthen health systems and eradicate malaria, highlighted Laos’ progress in reducing malaria cases, and showcased the collaborative approach needed to achieve malaria elimination by 2030. Distinguished guests who were present at the event include Lao PDR Minister of Health Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, French National Assembly Deputies Ms. Marie-Agnès Poussier-Winsback and Ms Béatrice Piron, British Ambassador to Laos, Ms Mel Barlow, and Lady Roslyn Morauta, Board Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Also present were representatives from the Embassies of France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Welcome remarks | Dr. Phonepadith Xangsayarath, Dr. Gautier Centlivre, Rachel Ong
The event opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Phonepadith Xangsayarath (Director General, Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health Lao PDR), Dr. Gautier Centlivre (Advocacy Coordinator, Global Health Advocates) and Rachel Ong (Regional Coordinator, GFAN AP). They emphasised the instrumental importance of collective commitment and action in order to ensure Sustainable Development Goal 3 (good health and well-being) and Universal Health Coverage is achieved for all by 2030.
Opening remarks | Honourable Professor Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Minister of Health Lao PDR
Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaysith expressed pride to be participating in the ceremony, noting, “Funding through global health institutions such as the Global Fund have supported Laos in the past two decades toward eliminating HIV, TB and malaria as epidemics. These diseases remain public health challenges in Laos and worldwide, and their elimination is a priority task of the Ministry of Health.”
Minister of Health Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith delivering his opening remarks for the World Malaria Day Event in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Keynote address | Dr. Vilasack Banouvong, Director of Malaria National Programme, Ministry of Health Lao PDR
For his keynote address, Dr. Vilasack Banouvong delivered his presentation titled “Lao PDR: On the Cusp of Malaria Elimination”, which highlighted key statistics and upcoming activities from Lao PDR’s national malaria programme:
- A decreasing trend in malaria cases from January 2017 till April 2025, including a significant near-zero reduction in P. falciparum and mixed cases over the two most recent years.
- 753,012 malaria tests were conducted in 2024, with 343 cases detected, out of which 41 cases were P. falciparum cases. 96,293 long-lasting insecticidal nets were distributed with 0 deaths reported.
- The National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2026-2030 will focus on achieving national malaria elimination, including obtaining elimination certification by 2030, implementing prevention of reestablishment in certain provinces by 2026, and implementing an integration road map.
Message on the Role of the Global Fund | Lady Roslyn Morauta, Board Chair, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Lady Roslyn Morauta presented on behalf of the Global Fund, highlighting key results from over two decades of global partnership for health: a total of 65 million lives saved, a 63% reduction in the combined death rate from HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, and investments to build stronger health systems in over 100 countries. However, she emphasised that multiple colliding crises have deepened inequities, placed the most vulnerable at greater risk, and now threatens to unravel progress against the three diseases.
Lady Roslyn also highlighted the Global Fund’s role in the fight against malaria: in countries where the Global Fund partnership invests, malaria deaths have been cut by 29% between 2002 and 2023, even as the population in these countries grew by 42%. The Global Fund has also invested US$ 700 million in the Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative (RAI) to eliminate malaria and combat drug resistance in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) by 2030. She also congratulated Lao PDR on the significant strides made towards malaria elimination, including a 99% reduction in malaria cases in the past decade and zero malaria deaths in 2024.
Lady Roslyn expressed appreciation to communities and civil society partners and concluded by acknowledging the importance of global solidarity and strengthened commitments during this critical time, stressing the need for continued investment and collective mobilisation more now than ever to ensure a fully resourced Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund.
Call of Support for the Global Fund Eighth Replenishment | Rachel Ong, Regional Coordinator, GFAN AP
Rachel Ong highlighted the importance of global solidarity and collaboration during tumultuous times, and the need for a global partnership to build resilience and interconnectivity in fighting diseases and strengthening health systems, which are the cornerstones of healthy communities, healthy populations, and healthy economies. Rachel also emphasised the urgency and importance of ending HIV, TB and malaria as epidemics in view of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and targets, and called for support for a successful Global Fund Eighth Replenishment.
Guests were invited to watch the following video, with captions in Laotian provided:
Contributions of the UK to Global Health | Her Excellency Melanie Barlow, British Ambassador to Lao PDR
H.E. Melanie Barlow delivered remarks on World Malaria Day and the UK’s commitment to action on global health issues, opening by congratulating Lao PDR on the significant progress made in eliminating malaria and their contributions to RAI in eradicating drug-resistant malaria in the region, and emphasising the importance that Lao PDR continues the work and achieves the goal of malaria elimination.
H.E. Melanie Barlow highlighted that the UK is a leading investor in the fight against malaria, as well as a founding member and the third largest historical donor to the Global Fund, having invested £5.5 billion to date. The UK’s current £1 billion commitment to the Global Fund for the period 2023–2026 has been supporting the distribution of 86 million mosquito nets, the delivery of 452,000 seasonal malaria chemoprevention treatments, and the administration of malaria treatment and care for 18 million people globally. The UK is also proud to be co-hosting the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment together with South Africa this year, recognising the Global Fund as a key pillar in the critical fight against malaria and for health systems.
H.E. Melanie Barlow also underlined the UK’s wider commitment to global health:
- The UK is the leading donor and the largest donor of flexible voluntary contributions to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which plays a critical role in setting the norms and standards for health, including on malaria control and elimination, as well as supporting countries with technical assistance.
- The UK is the largest sovereign donor to the Core Immunisation Programme of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance which is currently supporting the rollout of the RTS,S malaria vaccine.
- The UK continues its support to research and development for malaria, including novel bed nets, diagnostics, and new antimalarial medicines.
- The UK has a broader active role in global health security, including on the fight against the spread of antimicrobial resistance, which has increasingly compromised the effectiveness of antimalarial medicines in this region.
- The UK’s Fleming Fund is the world’s single largest official development assistance (ODA) investment in global antimicrobial resistance, data surveillance, and lab capacity.
- Since 2019, the UK has supported Lao PDR in tackling antimicrobial resistance through surveillance in human and animal health and a commitment of around US$7 million, which has also supported workforce capacity and the strengthening of expert networks through the Fleming Fund fellowships and the ASEAN-UK Global Health Security Partnership.
H.E. Melanie Barlow concluded by reaffirming the UK’s commitment to supporting the Global Fund’s work on malaria, including its role as a co-host of the Eighth Replenishment.
British Ambassador to Lao PDR Her Excellency Melanie Barlow speaking on the UK’s contributions to global health
Contribution of France in the Fight against Malaria | Juliette Perrot, Global Health Programme Officer, Embassy of France in Thailand
Juliette Perrot started with commendations on the progress made by Lao PDR towards malaria elimination, noting significant reduction in cases since 2014 and some regions in Lao PDR recognised as malaria-free. These results give credit to the leadership and commitment of the Lao PDR government and Ministry of Health, as well as the impact of collaboration and cooperation between stakeholders, governments, international organisations, civil society advocates, and community health workers towards a shared goal of global malaria eradication. Special credit was given to community-based organisations who have been instrumental in the fight against the three diseases.
Juliette emphasised that the battle against malaria is not yet won, given the effects of climate change and drug resistance which poses additional challenges. In the Mekong region, a pressing risk is also the resurgence of malaria in Myanmar which poses a threat to neighbouring countries, including Lao PDR. Rising border cases of malaria have been reported in Thailand, largely due to cross-border movement of displaced populations.
Juliette concluded by highlighting France’s role in our collective efforts to eliminate malaria. France is the second biggest donor to the Global Fund, the first donor of Unitaid, and one of the main supporters of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance which provides malaria vaccines in high-burden African countries. France also supports Lao PDR bilaterally through commitments via L’Initiative Expertise France and the French Development Agency (AFT) of over €12 million.
French National Assembly Deputies Ms. Marie-Agnès Poussier-Winsback and Ms Béatrice Piron with Global Health Advocates representatives Gautier Centlivre and Fanny Vesse
Role of Parliamentarians in Supporting Global Health | Her Honourable Marie-Agnès Poussier-Winsback, Deputy of the French Assembly, France
Ms Poussier-Winsback began with an acknowledgement of the unjust reality of malaria causing more than 600,000 deaths a year, primarily among children under the age of five, while being a preventable and curable disease. Parliamentarians have a responsibility to understand the reality of the fight on the ground to bring forward a political voice that is fair and well-informed, and have an essential role to play on several levels:
- A role of oversight and accountability in monitoring France’s commitment, assessing implementation, and listening to partners from the Global South.
- A budgetary role in voting annually on funding, including ODA, where it is important to make the right choices to prioritise investments and to support key actors who save lives and strengthen health systems in a lasting way.
- A political role in raising awareness among fellow parliamentarians, mobilising members of governments, and educating fellow citizens on the importance of global health as a public good and the fight against infectious diseases as a pillar of international solidarity and of our collective security.
France is proud to be a major donor and the second-largest historical contributor to the Global Fund. Ms Poussier-Winsback expressed her solemn and sincere appreciation to the work of researchers, healthcare professionals, volunteers, and community workers who carry out their duties daily in difficult conditions to protect life. By working together with everyone playing their part and building strong networks, we are able to find solutions.
Ms Poussier-Winsback concluded with an affirmation of France’s support for global health and appreciation to the Government of Lao PDR, organisers and organisations for the warm welcome in Lao PDR.
Perspectives from the Malaria Community | Boutchai Inthavanh, Salavan Province
Boutchai Inthavanh shared her experience as a village health volunteer from the Taoi tribe in the Salavan Province.
Due to the remote, mountainous, and forested location of her village, many in her community face high risks of malaria infection. During her 6 years working in malaria and health services, Boutchai had examined over 1,000 people infected with malaria. Every month, she would visit up to 12 households to educate families about preventive measures, medicines, symptoms and detection of malaria. A challenge Boutchai observed was that villagers with symptoms of suspected malaria would rarely go to health centres for treatment due to the distance, difficult roads, and the cost of travel. In response, village health volunteers provide support by taking blood tests within the villages, making testing and treatment more accessible.
Boutchai noted many positive changes in her community as people are more educated about malaria, take more preventative measures to avoid infection, and are more proactive in seeking testing and treatment when unwell. As a result, Taoi has seen a significant reduction in malaria cases. Boutchai ended her presentation by expressing her gratitude on behalf of her community for the support in community health improvement and malaria health services, while noting there is still much work to be done.
Closing remarks | Dr. Gautier Centlivre, Viengakhone Souriyo, Dr. Phonepadith Xangsayarath
The event concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Gautier Centlivre, Viengakhone Souriyo (Executive Director, CHIAs), and Dr. Phonepadith Xangsayarath. They expressed their appreciation to the organisers of the event and all speakers whose attendance and collective commitment to fighting malaria is a testament to the dedication and drive needed to achieve the ambitious goal of malaria elimination by 2030.
Participants at the World Malaria Day Event cheering “More Now Than Ever!”