Australian Government supports people with disabilities and UXO victims
The Australian Government will provide AUD$150,000 to help support victims of accidents with unexploded ordnances (UXO) and people with disabilities in Lao People’s Democratic Republic following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding today.
The funding will help people with disabilities in Sekong access rehabilitation services and participate in broader community activities. It will improve the effectiveness of the existing referral system for rural people with disabilities, and raise community awareness of available services in Sekong Province.
The “Improving Support and Services for People with Disabilities and UXO Victims Assistance” project is part of the Lao Australian NGO Cooperation Agreement Program.
The project will be implemented by CARE International in Lao PDR in partnership with the Ministry of Health through the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) and Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) during 2009-2010.
NRC and COPE have a dedicated network throughout Laos to provide essential rehabilitation services and this funding will help providing a mentoring program to enable their valuable work to continue.
“Support for people with disability is a development priority for the Australian Government’s aid program. Poverty and disability are closely linked and people with disabilities are among the poorest and most vulnerable,” Dr Michele Forster, Australian Ambassador to Laos said.
“These commitments are underpinned by our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Australia was one of the first developed countries to ratify in July this year.”
Mr Henry Braun, Country Director for CARE International in Lao PDR, expressed his appreciation for the support and cooperation received through the Australian Government’s aid program and the government agencies of Lao PDR.
Australia’s total funding to Laos for 2009-10, estimated to be AUD36.04 million, will support activities in basic education services, promoting growth of the market economy and reducing poverty in rural areas.
Media contact:
Ms. Rakounna Sisaleumsak
Senior Program Officer, AusAID Vientiane
Australian Embassy
Phone: 353800 Ext: 114