Food and Drug Department Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Risk Management regarding Importing and Exporting Food and Drug-related Products

The Food and Drug Department (FDD), Ministry of Health, organized a workshop on introducing Gender Mainstreaming and Risk Management regarding Food and Drug-related Products during 4-7 March 2021

The workshop’s objective was to celebrate International Women’s Day and disseminate gender mainstreaming in development. It was honourably co-chaired by Dr. Bounsou Keohavong, Deputy Director General of FDD and member of the National Party at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Viengxay Vansilalom, Deputy Director General of FDD and the President of the Lao Women Union at FDD, and Mrs. Samluaiy Soukkhavong, President of the Women Union in Vangvieng District, Vientiane Province. More than 70 participants attended the workshop, including representatives from: the Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Industry and Commerce; the Women Union in Vangvieng District, Vientiane Province; the Cabinet Office and Department of Planning and Cooperation; the Ministry of Health; the Bureau of Food and Drug Inspection; the Food and Drug Quality Control Center; the Medicine and Medical Equipment Supply Center; the Lao Herbal Research Institution; the Faculty of Medical Science, the University of Health Science; No. 2 Medical Factory; No. 3 Medical Factory; and Vangvieng District Health Office.

The meeting engaged with topics including gender mainstreaming in the health sector to reduce gender inequality, the accessibility of health services, health issues concerning mothers and children, and presenting basic information about gender and health. In addition, the participants discussed gender mainstreaming in the Lao Competitiveness and Trade Project, and risk management in importing, transiting and exporting food and drug-related products.

In addition to the dissemination of gender and gender mainstreaming in the health and trade sectors, the participants took this opportunity to visit fish production at the District Cooperative Enterprise at Thahuea Village, Vangvieng District, the Vegetable Organic Farm at Phoudindaeng Village, Vangvieng District, and tourist attraction sites at Vangvieng District.

This workshop is supported by the Lao Competitiveness and Trade (LCT) project. The LCT project is a multi-donor project funded by Australian Aid, Irish Aid, USAID and the World Bank Groupto eliminate the barriers to private sector-led growth by improving the regulatory environment, lowering trade costs and raising firm-level competitiveness.