Public Works and 

Transport and 
HIV/AIDS in Lao PDR

Mr. Xayabandith INSISIENGMAY, Deputy Director, 
Division of  Environment  and Social
Ministry of Public Works and Transport 
ADB Transport Forum, Manila, 25‐27 May 2010
The views expressed in this paper are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the
Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Directors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the
source, originality, accuracy, completeness or reliability of any statement, information, data, finding, interpretation, advice,
opinion, or view presented, nor does it make any representation concerning the same.
National HIV/AIDS Situation

„ HIV prevalence: lower than 0.1%

„ Main route of HIV transmission: heterosexual
(85%)
„ Among the new HIV positive cases reported in
2008 (N=482), 60% are 20-34 years old
„ HIV prevalence:
‰ Male electricity workers 0.3%

‰ Service women 0.4%

HIV and Infrastructure

„ Research:
‰ Behavioral surveys of truck drivers
‰ Impact assessments among affected
communities
„ Road 9
„ 2nd Mekong Bridge (Lao PDR-Thailand)
„ Mobile populations - one of the most-at-risk
populations in the National Strategic Plan on
HIV/STI (2006–2010)
„ MPWT has the mandate to lead and manage all
public works
HIV Strategic Plan of MPWT

„ Methodology:
‰ An inception workshop
‰ Training on data collection
‰ Data collection in 11 provinces
‰ Data analysis workshop and development of draft
strategic plan
‰ Stakeholders consultation meeting

„ Collaborated with CHAS and PCCAs

„ Technical support from ADB, through Burnet
Institute
Highlights of the HIV Strategic Plan

Overall objective : To prevent the transmission of HIV

among the MPWT workforce and among communities
living in the vicinity of large-scale infrastructure
construction sites.

Strategies:
„ Ongoing situational analysis
„ Collaboration and advocacy
„ Capacity Building
„ Prevention
„ Treatment, care and support
„ Reduction of stigma and discrimination
„ Reduction of substance abuse in the workplace
Issues, Challenges and Response
„ HIV strategic plan development - new activity for MPWT
„ Human resource issues in quantity and quality
„ HIV not high in the MPWT agenda
„ Need understanding and support from different MPWT
departments – advocacy work needed
„ Lack of evidence of HIV impact within the MPWT
Plan to address the issues:
„ Strategy plan under the process of approval
„ Draft action plan for the MPWT
„ Draft the curriculum
„ Focus on strengthening of capacity
„ Link to the National strategic plan and HIV/AIDS Law
„ Identify funding to support the activities
Factors for Success
„ Existing National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan
„ Support from high-level decision makers
within MPWT
„ Existing capacity at central level
„ Consultative process enhances ownership
„ Support from ADB and Burnet
ABD Mission  visits, Data 
Collection Workshop
Data Collection Workshop
Vientiane Province
Data Collection Workshop
Vientiane Province
Data Analysis Workshop, Luang
Prabang Province
Data Analysis Workshop
Luang Prabang Province
Stakeholders Consultation Worshop
Vientiane Capital
 Khob Chai Lai Lai
Thank you very much. 

Mr. Xayabandith INSISIENGMAY
xayabandith@hotmail.com