Medical and rehabilitative treatment for UXO survivors and PWD
Emergency and ongoing treatment costs for UXO survivors
QLA supports UXO victims by funding the cost of emergency medical treatment, transport and associated costs and ongoing treatment for UXO survivors.
Access to services for UXO survivors and PWD
QLA provides funding to enable UXO survivors and people with disabilities to access medical or rehabilitative treatment or a service that they would not otherwise have been able to access due to lack of funds. QLA also makes referrals to professional services where available.
Psychosocial support for UXO survivors and PWD
Home visits
Accompanied by a medical doctor and a representative from the provincial rehabilitation centre, QLA makes periodic visits to the homes of UXO survivors and PWD to re-assess their needs, offer psychosocial support, identify their challenges of daily functioning and the barriers that prevent them from participating in their community. An action plan is developed to help address their needs and remove the barriers.
Get togethers for peer to peer support
Many of QLA’s target group are excluded by their communities because of the stigma associated with their impairment. QLA hosts periodic gatherings for UXO survivors, PWD and care givers to come together for peer to peer psychosocial support. Significantly, these forums have allowed UXO survivors and PWD to exchange stories, form new friendships and experience directly that they are not alone. Interest in this forum continues to grow.
First aid training
As part of a two year program funded by EU/MAG, QLA is coordinating First Aid training to 140 people in 7 villages in remote areas to improve their response should a UXO accident occur. The severe rain season in Laos in 2011 caused much flooding and devastation. During that time a UXO accident occurred in a remote village in Xieng Khouang province where the victim lost his hand in the explosion and had to wait 3 days before being taken to hospital due to the impassable road. The first aid knowledge of the village health volunteer saved his life.
Livelihood programs
QLA co-ordinates a range of livelihood initiatives and provides ongoing support to help beneficiaries achieve a sustainable livelihood. The village based approach to the training has proven to be the most effective way for QLA to ensure equal participation by QLA’s target group in the activities, social inclusion and peer to peer support after the training has been completed.
UXO Survivor Information Centre
QLA’s UXO Survivor Information Centre is in the main street of Phonsavanh.
It has
• an exhibition about UXOs, information about QLA programs, stories of UXO survivors and people with disabilities,
• a reading room with a collection of books relating to Laos and the bombing of Laos, and
• a shop which sells handicrafts produced by UXO survivors, PWD and impoverished people.
Advocacy
QLA advocates for the rights and empowerment of UXO survivors and people with disabilities.