Lao Friends Hospital for Children
Moving Child Foundation supports Friends without a Border the Lao Friends Hospital for Children in Laos since 2026
The Lao Friends Children’s Hospital (LFHC), opened in 2015, is the first of its kind in Laos: a hospital run by and for the people of Laos. It is funded entirely by foundations and donations and operates independently of the state hospital in Luang Prabang, while maintaining close and ongoing exchange with it.
Since 2016, the LFHC has received annual financial support from Moving Child gGmbH. Since 2026, this support has been continued by the Moving Child Foundation.
Initially, Moving Child supported the department for the treatment of thalassemia, a hereditary form of anemia caused by abnormal formation and increased breakdown of red blood cells. Thalassemia is more common in northern Laos and, if left untreated, can lead to developmental disorders, damage to the heart and lungs, and enlargement of the spleen – with potentially life-threatening consequences for children.
Since 2019, a particular focus of the funding has been the children’s health education program at the hospital, which was initiated and fully funded by Moving Child. The education program is based on two key pillars: educating patients and training specialist staff. From the very beginning, we were particularly impressed by the sustainable concept of in-house teaching and educational activities. The aim of the program is to sustainably strengthen the autonomy and independence of Laotian doctors and nursing staff.
“We were impressed by the motivation and commitment of everyone involved in this project. The independence that is fostered here, and therefore also the sustainability of this project, are exemplary and have deeply impressed us.” (Moving Child Team)
The teaching program includes daily lectures and discussions on relevant topics, structured English lessons, and exchange with international experts, and is based on the learning-by-doing principle. International experts take on a teaching and supporting role, while the practical work is carried out by local doctors.
A particular focus is placed on the principle of “teaching to teach”: medical staff are trained not only to apply the knowledge they have acquired, but also to pass it on to a new generation of future doctors. In this way, dependence on international experts is gradually reduced and the professional autonomy of Laotian staff is sustainably strengthened.
