Laos
Health and Safety in Laos
Emergency air travel is included in the health insurance, which is totally necessary. The charge in medical evacuation is expensive and usually the hospitals and doctors are expecting the medical treatment be paid in terms of cash. It is recommended that travelers may bring enough supplies for personal medication. Certificate for a yellow fever vaccination is compulsory to those travelers arriving from contaminated areas. Cholera is a critical danger in the country and safety measures are necessary. Some common illnesses are malaria, polio, typhoid and malignant falciparum. Other infection diseases that one might experience in the country include amoebic dysentery, dengue fever, diphtheria, giardia lamblia, Hepatitis A, B and E, Japanese encephalitis, liver flukes, measles, rabies, schistosomiasis, tuberculosis and typhus.
As of 2005, there are around 49% of HIV/AIDS patients taking antiretroviral therapy. According to the World Health Organization and UNAIDS, the rate for HIV prevalence in the country remains low. Heterosexual sex is the primary way of transmission in Laos. Using condoms does not reduce the risk of HIV virus. Sex education and HIV/AIDS awareness are promoted in different areas by the Ministry of Education. They conduct training for principals and teachers, which they can pass on to their students whatever knowledge they gain in the said training. In 2006, the Global Fund granted a sixth-round award to Lao People’s Democratic Republic to improve HIV/AIDS treatment and various prevention programmes.
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