The National Emerging Infectious Disease Coordination Office (NEIDCO) of Laos and Care International in Laos signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost Lao defenses against bird flu and the A/H1N1 flu, the Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported on Wednesday.

The MoU was signed by Director of NEIDCO Bounlay Phommasack and Care Acting Country Director Alexandra Maclean, said the newspaper.

According to the MoU, Care will, in the first stage, provide Laos support of the first national free-call hotline which served as an information link for the public to call and ask questions or to report suspected bird flu outbreaks in animal and human as well as the current A/H1N1 flu worldwide.

Apart from assistance from Care, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC) also contributed more than one billion kip (US$126,68) to the one-year program, which runs from September 2008 to September 2009, to help Laos fight against bird flu and other communicable diseases, said the newspaper.

Care International is a humanitarian organization fighting global poverty, with focus on working alongside with poor women.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2009)