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Vientiane: Difference between revisions
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
There are no travel or residency restrictions related to HIV status.<ref>[http://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=103 LAOS - REGULATIONS ON ENTRY, STAY AND RESIDENCE FOR PLHIV]</ref> This means that, if you're a foreigner entering Laos (whether as a tourist, student, worker or prospective resident), you won't be asked for a medical certificate certifying your HIV status. Furthermore, if you test positive for HIV in Laos, you shouldn't be deported from the country. However, if you're pregnant and receive prenatal care, or if you're a foreigner who wants to marry a Lao national, you'll probably need to take an HIV test.<ref>[Online conversations with Vientiane locals]</ref> It's typically mandatory in these cases. | |||
There are an estimated 11,000 people with HIV living in Laos.<ref>[http://www.aidsdatahub.org/Country-Profiles/Lao-PDR Lao PDR - Key Facts on HIV]</ref> While this number is lower than neighboring countries, such as [[Thailand]] or [[Cambodia]], HIV rates are on the rise with about 1000 new cases being reported each year, leading to the claim that there's currently a "Lao epidemic." The highest risk groups tend to be sex workers, transgender people, injection drug users, and MSM (men who have sex with men).<ref>[https://www.unicef.org/laos/activities_22357.html Laos - HIV/AIDS]</ref> <ref>[http://www.wpro.who.int/laos/topics/hiv/en/ Lao People's Democratic Republic - HIV]</ref> As the Laotian borders have opened up in the recent years, the country is seeing higher rates of transmission among foreigners, migrant workers and injection-drug users along the borders as well.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report/94374/laos-looming-threat-catching-hiv-prevalence | There are an estimated 11,000 people with HIV living in Laos.<ref>[http://www.aidsdatahub.org/Country-Profiles/Lao-PDR Lao PDR - Key Facts on HIV]</ref> While this number is lower than neighboring countries, such as [[Thailand]] or [[Cambodia]], HIV rates are on the rise with about 1000 new cases being reported each year, leading to the claim that there's currently a "Lao epidemic." The highest risk groups tend to be sex workers, transgender people, injection drug users, and MSM (men who have sex with men).<ref>[https://www.unicef.org/laos/activities_22357.html Laos - HIV/AIDS]</ref> <ref>[http://www.wpro.who.int/laos/topics/hiv/en/ Lao People's Democratic Republic - HIV]</ref> As the Laotian borders have opened up in the recent years, the country is seeing higher rates of transmission among foreigners, migrant workers and injection-drug users along the borders as well.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report/94374/laos-looming-threat-catching-hiv-prevalence | ||
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===Testing Facilities=== | ===Testing Facilities=== | ||
* VYC clinic (clinic of the Vientiane Youth Center for Health and Development): They provide STI/HIV testing and counseling by experienced local doctors, and with medicines it only costs between 40,000-50,000 kip. It is linked to a hotline, radio programme and outreach to young people in some factories in Vientiane Capital and Province, and young people living in dormitories and studying at the National University. The clinic is their core service for nearly 10 years now, and VYC is a project linked to the Vientiane Capital Lao Women's Union but the clinic doesn't operate like a government facility at all. Phone: +856 21 252 886. | |||
* French Medical Center (also known as the "French Clinic"): This is one of the better places to get an STI test in Laos. They send the samples to labs in Thailand to be tested, and overall, the clinic's STI testing is considered to be on par with Western standards. However, the services will be more expensive and may take more time. Address: Bvd. Kouvieng Rue Simeuang, Vientiane, Laos. Phone: +856 21 214 150. | * French Medical Center (also known as the "French Clinic"): This is one of the better places to get an STI test in Laos. They send the samples to labs in Thailand to be tested, and overall, the clinic's STI testing is considered to be on par with Western standards. However, the services will be more expensive and may take more time. Address: Bvd. Kouvieng Rue Simeuang, Vientiane, Laos. Phone: +856 21 214 150. | ||
* | * Mahosot Hospital: This hospital can give you a quicker and faster HIV test (and some other tests) than some other health care providers in Vientiane. While the hospital is not recommended by some expats for more complicated procedures, it's fine for basic tests. Furthermore, it was the first hospital in the country that was developed to focus on infectious diseases. Address: Quai Fa Ngum, Vientiane, Laos. Phone: +856 20 55 717 418. | ||
* [https://www.facebook.com/laomedcare/ LMC Clinic Vientiane]: You can get tested for HIV, gonorrhea | * [https://www.facebook.com/laomedcare/ LMC Clinic Vientiane]: You can get tested for HIV (quick test, 60,000 kip), gonorrhea, chlamydia (40,000 kip each, swab test only), syphilis and possibly other sti's (all prices January 2018). | ||
* For pregnant women, the Mother & Child Hospital provides HIV tests, which may be mandatory. | |||
===Support=== | ===Support=== | ||
* As of June 2017, Sethathirat Hospital has a special section at the back with a new building for patients with HIV, AIDS and TB under Dr Saykham. | |||
* Skin Diseases Clinic (Khou Vieng) - One of the most populars clinics treating venereal disease in Vientiane. | |||
* World Health Organization Representative Office Lao People's Democratic Republic: 125 Saphanthong Road, Unit 5 Ban Saphangthongtai, Sisattanak District Vientiane Capital, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Telephone: (856) 21 353-902 / 3 / 4 . Facsimile: (856) 21 353-905. E-mail: who.lao@wpro.who.int | * World Health Organization Representative Office Lao People's Democratic Republic: 125 Saphanthong Road, Unit 5 Ban Saphangthongtai, Sisattanak District Vientiane Capital, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Telephone: (856) 21 353-902 / 3 / 4 . Facsimile: (856) 21 353-905. E-mail: who.lao@wpro.who.int | ||
* [https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/hivaids/ The Global Fund]: This organization provides a lot of the funding for HIV/AIDS work in Laos. | * [https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/hivaids/ The Global Fund]: This organization provides a lot of the funding for HIV/AIDS work in Laos. | ||
* [http://www.psi.org/country/laos/#about Population Services - Laos]: PSI has taken an active role in HIV/AIDS prevention and condom distribution in Laos. "PSI/Laos has been working since 1999 in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) to: Reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and malaria. Find new cases of tuberculosis (TB). Prevent unintended pregnancies. Reduce undernutrition. Improve overall reproductive health and sanitation among Lao people." | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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* "If a woman had a '''UTI''', she might visit a public or private provider, or she may go directly to the pharmacist. Many pharmacists are public providers who have a pharmacy practice on the side; they are often a first stop for people who are sick (especially in rural areas where they may be much closer than a health facility)." - Local Health Care Professional | * "If a woman had a '''UTI''', she might visit a public or private provider, or she may go directly to the pharmacist. Many pharmacists are public providers who have a pharmacy practice on the side; they are often a first stop for people who are sick (especially in rural areas where they may be much closer than a health facility)." - Local Health Care Professional | ||
* There is an '''HPV vaccination''' program (Gardasil) in Laos, launched in 2013 and lead by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.<ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/hpv-vaccine-campaign-in-laos-aims-to-curb-cervical-cancer-rates/1761242.html Laos HPV Vaccine Campaign Aims to Curb Cervical Cancer]</ref> | * There is an '''HPV vaccination''' program (Gardasil) in Laos, launched in 2013 and lead by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.<ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/hpv-vaccine-campaign-in-laos-aims-to-curb-cervical-cancer-rates/1761242.html Laos HPV Vaccine Campaign Aims to Curb Cervical Cancer]</ref> | ||
* There is no | * There is no provider of '''Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)''' in Laos (as of June 2017),<ref>[http://www.prepwatch.org/ PrEPWatch World Map]</ref> <ref>[Conversation with health care professional in Laos]</ref> but it can be found in [[Thailand]]. | ||
* | * You can find '''Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)''' in Laos at hospitals that provide ARV therapy.<ref>[Conversation with health care professional in Laos]</ref> | ||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
A woman is entitled to at least 105 calendar days of fully paid maternity leave, at least 45 days of which must be after the birth. | |||
During the year after birth, the woman is entitled to have one hour a day of rest in order to feed and take care of the child. | |||
If a woman suffers a miscarriage, she is entitled to leave on full pay for a period as determined by a doctor. On the birth of a baby, a woman is entitled to an allowance as specified in the Social Security Law.<ref>[http://jclao.com/the-basic-rules-of-employment-in-laos/ The Basic Rules Of Employment In Laos: Updates to the Lao Labour Law]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
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===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
* Police: Call 1191 | |||
* Tourist Police: Call 1192 | |||
* Ambulance: Call 1195 | |||
* [https://www.facebook.com/vwycfans/ The Vientiane Women’s and Youth Center for Health and Development (Vientiane Youth Center or VYC)] - They have a Toll Free Hotline (1361 for females, 137 for males), focusing on youth (10 to 24 years-old). When you call the hotline, they can offer advice and clinical referrals, 9am-7pm, from Tuesday to Saturday. However, be aware that chats are typically limited to 5-10 minutes and you will often be referred to someone or an organization who can provide more specific services during that call. | |||
* [https://www.devex.com/organizations/lao-pdr-women-s-union-lwu-52706 Lao PDR Women's Union (LW)]: "In January 2006, the first women's shelter in Lao PDR was officially opened in Vientiane. The name of this shelter is the Lao Women’s Union Counseling and Protection Center for Women and Children. The shelter was made possible through the dedicated work of the Lao Women’s Union, the Lao Government who donated a plot of land for this shelter, UNICEF, the Asia Foundation, and the Japanese Embassy. The shelter can house up to 50 women and girls who are the victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and trafficking, or are abandoned or homeless. The shelter also has a vocational center that trains the women and girls living in the shelter on new job skills, such as handicrafts, sewing, and basic business management." | |||
* [http://sengsavang.org/en/home/ Sengsavang]: This organization focuses on victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and they have rehabilitation centre. "SENGSAVANG’s rehabilitation centre provides a safe home where the girls receive holistic care during their rehabilitation process and are given hope for a better future. Besides offering accommodation, food, clothing and other basic necessities, we foster the girls’ overall well-being by providing health care, psychological care, and legal support." | |||
'''Comments from health care professional based in Vientiane:''' | |||
* "There aren’t a lot of resources for women in need in Laos, but in general they can contact the Lao Women’s Union for many issues. They run a shelter for domestic violence survivors in Vientiane. There is also Sengsavang shelter and another shelter run by Village Focus International. There is the Vientiane Youth Center, which is a good resources, and a hotline for SRH questions..." - Health care professional based in Vientiane (June 2016) | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||