Lao PDR

Located in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Lao PDR was a signatory of the APLMA roadmap in 2015.

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An important focus for Lao PDR has been its Accelerator Strategies (AS), which were piloted in late 2021 and expanded in 2022 to target high P. falciparum burden foci with intensive interventions such as TDA, IPTf and AFS. Lao PDR has also begun prioritizing efforts key to long-term sustainability, including the integration of Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) into the broader health system.

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Lao PDR is part of the Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative (RAI), a special multi-country award from the Global Fund which aims to accelerate malaria elimination in the GMS, including drug-resistant P. falciparum malaria. Like other countries in the GMS, Lao PDR also faces the challenges of an increasing proportion of P. vivax malaria.

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Currently among the countries making up 1% of the Asia Pacific’s malaria burden, Lao PDR aims to eliminate all species of human malaria by 2030 across two phases - first, by eliminating P. falciparum malaria countrywide along with all malaria species in 13 northern provinces by 2023 (Phase 1) with the entire country to become malaria-free by 2030 (Phase 2).