11 new villages in Champassak become open-defecation free

Pathoumphon District is one of seven target districts in Champassak province for the Support to Government-Led Scaling-Up Rural Sanitation Programme (SURS), which is being implemented by SNV in Lao PDR and PADETC, with financial support from the Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) of the World Bank. The total population of the district is 60,485, of which almost 90% are of Lao Loum ethnicity. The project triggered 20 villages in this district to create demand for latrine construction, through Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) processes.

In July 2015, the District Authority and the Province Health Department declared 11 villages in this district totally free of Open Defecation (ODF). Villages that were declared ODF are Nakham, Phakphieo, Morphou, Namsaytha, Pakhouy, Pathoumphon, Sichantho, Peuaylao, Thahou, Nongkae, and Km30.

The ceremony congratulating and recognising these villages was chaired by Mr Somsanith Boutivong, the Vice Governor of the Province, and was also attended by Mrs Dr Khampho Chaleunvong, Director of Provincial Health Department, Mr Padith Vannalatsamy, District Governor, Mr Aftab Opel, WASH Sector Leader of SNV in Lao PDR, and other district authorities and village leaders from the 11 villages.

A total of 6,354 people, including 3,108 females and 1,132 households, having improved their sanitation status in these 11 villages. There are 68 villages in Pathoumphon District, six of which were declared ODF in 2014. Thus far, there are 17 ODF villages in total (equivalent to 25% of villages in the district). The other triggered villages are expected to be declared open defecation free in the near future.