Vientiane Capital, 24ᵗʰ of March 2026 – IPL and its partners convened a Climate and Health Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on 24th of March 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Vientiane Capital, bringing together representatives from government institutions, academia, international organisations, and research partners to discuss priorities, challenges, and opportunities at the intersection of climate and health.

Participants included representatives from the Department of Communicable Diseases Control (DCDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Faculty of Environment (FoE), WWF-Laos, the Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), and other stakeholders involved in public health, environmental monitoring, and research.

The meeting was opened by Dr. Darouny Phonekeo, Deputy Director of IPL, and Dr. Phoupasong Somphou, Deputy Director of DCDC, who highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration and evidence generation to better understand the health impacts of climate change in Laos.

Discussions focused on climate-sensitive diseases, integrated surveillance systems, predictive modelling, environmental monitoring, and One Health approaches. IPL presented ongoing activities related to Aedes mosquito surveillance in Vientiane Capital, including efforts to integrate climate and entomological data to support predictive modelling and strengthen preparedness for vector-borne diseases.

The consultation also provided an opportunity for partners to exchange experiences and explore ways to strengthen collaboration between research institutions, public health authorities, and policy-makers. Particular emphasis was placed on improving data sharing, supporting integrated climate-health modelling initiatives, and promoting evidence-based decision-making.

The meeting reinforced a shared commitment among participating organisations to strengthen climate and health collaboration and support the development of data-driven approaches to public health resilience in Laos.