These last news are not translated into French yet | ||
News |
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The Kapue Silk Project |
As part of its rural development work, the SFE used a theatre group from Vientiane for un unusual training project. Mid-December drama was used on several consecutive nights in the villages with which the SFE is working. That was a different way of demonstrating the main steps to the villagers should use when raising silkworms, winding good quality silk thread of and treating issues that can be encountered during production. This also reminds participants of this project’s main objectives which are that are acquisition of financial independence and the use of that to pay their children’s education of and facilitate easier access to health care. After each presentation the villagers were invited to come on stage and to answer questions about what they had seen and heard. Good participation with much laughter indicates that his approach is successful. |
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The Attopeu nursing competition: 14th January |
The SFE provides training for the nurses in district hospitals (about twice to three times a month) and in the provincial hospital (once a week). A competition is held annually to encourage and motivate nurses. SFE staff select those who should be rewarded and also asses the effectiveness of the training session. This is always a happy occasion and gifts, such as a nice SFE shirt for example, are distributed. Singing and a delicious meal create a pleasant atmosphere and the day terminates with the presentation of the long awaited diplomas. |
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Sekong: TB project |
From 13th to 24th February French doctors came to help SFE for medical staff training in the Sekong hospital. This voluntary help, started in 1999 is always appreciated. This year, two dentists, an optician and a radiologist shared their knowledge with their counterparts in Laos. Many patients in the region benefited from medical and optical treatment. 420 patients were examined in eye clinics and about 45 kg of glasses from France were distributed free of charge. |
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Kapue Silk Project : a participant testifies |
Témoignage d’une villageoise qui produit de la soie (source : blog d’Elise et Célio Nelson)
Five years ago SFE started a project to develop silk production in the Sekong province. There is a significant market for silk in Laos and neighboring countries.
The project’s aim is to enable villagers to earn extra income and thereby improve their living conditions.
« At first we did not want to raise silkworms because we were afraid of them! But on seeing that other villagers could earn additional income by producing silk, my parents encouraged me to participate. I find it is easier for raise silkworms rather than buffaloes! "
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Attopeu |
Community Development ProjectMosquito nets received from the German embassyMosquito nets are an essential prevention tool against Malaria. The SFE community health development project received funds from the German Embassy to buy 550 long-lasting treated mosquito nets. These were distributed in all 10 project villages last December.
A visit to a remote villageOn June 6, 2011, the Saydonkhong village health station, situated in the Attopeu province, was officially opened. Building process took four months with much effort, as work had to be completed before the rains which came early this year making access roads to the village impassable. But the result is really convincing! The SFE has supported this project by providing materials and a team member to supervise the villagers during construction. ![]()
Construction of the Saydonkhong health centre: |
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Sekong |
Project tuberculosis
Following the success in the Attopeu province
the proposed fight against tuberculosis has been "exported"
to the neighboring province at the request of the provincial
hospital in the Sekong province.
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Personnel |
ArrivalsReturnsOn July 8, the Lebreuil family returned to Switzerland after two years working in the SFE headquarters in Vientiane.The SFE is considering the future of the rural development project (now mainly focused on sericulture) and how it can be diversified. In this context, Sophie Hege, an agricultural student came ina and provided valuable assistance in serving a six months period on the Kapeu farm. Sophie quickly adapted to this new environment and embarked on the development of tests on the culture of mulberry trees and soil improvement on the farm. These very acid soils were recently infected with root rot, a disease attacking the mulberry tree roots. She also conducted several tests on crop plants such as Artemisia, used in the fight against malaria or moringa, a plant rich in protein, vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and potassium, used to fight against malnutrition. Other plants, such as amaranth and okra, which seem to have interesting properties to be exploited, were also studied. In addition to her fieldwork, she did important research work on potential agricultural production diversification. In this context, she has had contacts with NGOs working in agriculture, in order to "harvest" experience and new ideas. Her work in the SFE terminated with the drafting of two reports, one on crop trials and the other on the outcome of the research, allowing the SFE to advance as it considers the project’s future. |
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Attopeu 4 |
The MOU (Master of Understanding) for phase 4 of our medical project in Attopeu has been signed on July 28th, 2010. It is focused on community development in 10 villages and supporting the provincial hospital. | |
Savannakhet
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The MOU for phase II of the ophtalmologic center
in Savannakhet has been signed for 3 years
on October 4, 2010 |
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Marriages |
![]() Their union will be celebrated in France on August 28th in Montbéliard. |
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![]() A reception is to be held in Netherlands on November 12 for those who cannot join the celebration in Korea. |
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These last news are not translated into French yet | ||
Back home |
The medical project in Luang Namtha has been closed
at the end of May, 2010. Our co-workers and partners were all satisfied
with the results of the project. There has been noteworthy progess in different areas ... ... Read more ... In this province, improving of the roads and economic developement have resulted in a massive increas of road accidents, especially among motocylists, with severe injuries needing hospital treatment... A prenventive campaign organised by SFE in cooperation with the local authorities, promoting in particuliar wearing of a helmet, was quite fruitful. One day before he was to leave Laos, Günther received a word from a German scientific medical journal saying that a study on this action was to be published in this journal. Among the other reason for satisfaction on medical issues, our team made in interesting discovery : the first cause of fever in the province is not malaria as was previously believed, but unother tropical infection. This knowledge will help establish better diagnosis and offer more adequat treatment in many cases.
The Slesak family is now back in Germany, after 5 and a half years of service in Laos.
Günther is going to do further studies to get
a master in international medecine and work
in tropical medecine. |
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Vincent Amstutz and his family have been in Laos since July 27th, 2006.
They returned to Switzerland on May 15th, 2010.
Vincent will take a position as «chef de clinique»
at the «Policlinique universitaire» in Lausanne. He will continue to give some of his time for SFE, namely as a member of the committee in Europe, and also to develop partnership between the «Policlinique» and Attopeu provincial hospital. TOP OF PAGE |
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2010Click on the image to view the newsletter (in French, PDF format) |
![]() Lettre de nouvelles avril 2010, version PDF |
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Desastrous flooding |
Ketsana typhoon impacts our team in Southern LaosTyphoon Ketsana caused flooding in Southern Laos. The Attopeu region was severely affected on September 30, 2009. However, our teams are safe. « The main street in the centre of Attopeu was the only road that was still dry! Our house was flooded... »", said Vincent Amstutz. « The typhoon came down from Vietnam. There was not so much wind, but a lot of rain. » Several regions in Southern Laos were flooded, especially in Attopeu, Sekong, Saravane and Savannakhet provinces. « The most difficult time was the night of Wednesday to Thursday. The water rose very high - up to 1.5 meters - in our house, » continued Dr Amstutz. « On Thursday, the water was so deep I had to swim to get to our house where we live with our three children. But to-day, the water has gone down and there is a only a small trickle. Everything is covered with thick mud. Thanks to the cooperation of the staff, we were able to get the houses, offices, and the hospital cleaned and back to working order in about two weeks. » TOP OF PAGE One year's worth of tests lostThe hospital building was flooded under 50 cm of water, and one year's worth of tests related to our Spirulina project were lost. Nevertheless, our Lao team member can be proud of herself: she went back with 15 liters after the flooding and has already managed to fill a basin. NGOs cooperate(report)In Vientiane, the capital city, the NGOs are working together to bring help to the affected areas. Attopeu province will be taken in charge by Health Unlimited, a British NGO. SFE staff will continue to help in areas where they have the expertise, that is, in local hospitals, where they know the people and can assess the real needs and help in adequate and flexible ways, on a long-term basis. Several NGOs have been asking for information from SFE in order to know what the real needs are in the hospitals. A lot of expensive equipment has been damaged and will need to be replaced or repaired. Our concern is what will happen in caring for the poorest people after this phase of emergency aid has passed. Our support for the poorer patients will be take on greater significance in the days following the crisis.TOP OF PAGE |
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: 05/27/2012 |