On 20 March 2023, Lt. Sorawud Preededilok, Minister attached to Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Dr. Sopon Iamsirithaworn, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Diseases Control, Ministry of Public Health and Dr. Steven G. Olive, Mission Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development/Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA), jointly presided over the “Opening Ceremony of Capacity Strengthening on Entomology and Joint Foci Investigations for Lao PDR” from 20 – 31 March 2023 with participation of 15 representatives from Centre of Mariology, Parasitology, and Entomology, the Ministry of Public Health, Lao PDR at TK Palace & Convention Hotel. This program, as part of the Entomological Capacity Strengthening for Malaria Elimination Project, is the trilateral cooperation on health between the TICA – USAID/RDMA.

In addition, this development cooperation program on health in the third country is the first activity being launched under the TICA – USAID Strategic Partnership, having the Department of Diseases Control as the key implementing agency under the partnership. One of the key objectives of the program is to share Thailand’s experiences and expertise to Lao PDR and other countries in Mekong region to help the region free from malaria by 2030 to achieve the SDGs, including Goal 3 on good health and well-being.