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[caption id="attachment_607" align="alignleft" width="621" caption="Dr Luc Janssens (center) poses with villagers in Phongsaly province"]<a href="http://lao-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/vt-october-2010-2.jpg"><img src="http://lao-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/vt-october-2010-2.jpg" alt="Vientiane Times - October 2010" title="Vientiane Times - October 2010" width="621" height="322" class="size-full wp-image-607" /></a>[/caption]
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<h2>Rural communities get free health checks</h2>

A team of doctors from Oudomxay and Phongsaly provincial hospitals recently provided health check-ups for people living in rural areas of Bountai and Bounneua districts of Phongsaly province. 

The doctors provided dental, ear, nose, throat and eye examinations, as well as overall health check-ups for expectant mothers and young children. 

Ophthalmologist at the Oudomxay provincial Hospital's Eye Unit, Dr Phetsamone Indara, said the services were provided with support from the United States - Lao Rehabilitation Foundation (LRF), Women for World Health and the Fred Hollows Association. 

The mobile medical team particularly focused on elderly people and more than 3,000 local residents turned up for a free health check. Despite the activity, there are still many people with dental, ear, nose, throat and eye diseases in remote areas of the country requiring assistance, said Dr Phetsamone. 

With the aim of assisting such people, LRF President Dr Luc Janssens provided medicines,  aural and dental equipment to the Bountai and Bounneua district hospitals, as well as ultrasound and echography machines to the Phongsaly provincial hospital. 

The total cost of the health checks and equipment amounted to US$44,544.00

<strong>By Times Reporters 
(Latest Update October 27, 2010)
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