Building on a years-long partnership between SNF and Friends Without a Border, which operates Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) in Luang Prabang, Northern Laos, a 2023 SNF grant made as part of its Global Health Initiative (GHI) supported the provision of essential medical care at the hospital.
The grant covered the operating costs of LFHC's Pediatric Laboratory for one year and supported the acquisition of essential medical equipment, including infant warmers, continuous positive air pressure machines, and syringe pumps.
In the face of one of the world’s highest child and neonatal mortality rates, LFHC stands as the sole pediatric hospital in the region, delivering free high-quality health care to tens of thousands of children each year. The hospital also serves as a Reference Center for health care education, collaborating with other hospitals in the country to offer consultations and professional training.
In a significant partnership with UNICEF, LFHC is recognized as the premier provider of malnutrition treatment in Laos. This collaboration extends to training other provincial hospitals to ensure implementation of the national malnutrition guidelines. Moreover, partnerships with esteemed academic and research institutions around the world further amplify LFHC’s impact.
A further SNF grant in 2025 provided overall operating support to the hospital.