Celebrating 50 Years of Laos–Netherlands Friendship and 31 Years of Eye Care Impact

On 17 November 2025, our Laotian colleague – Lattana – represented the Eye Care Foundation (ECF) at the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Laos and the Netherlands. The event, held at the Settha Palace Hotel in Vientiane, highlighted half a century of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

For ECF, the celebration was also a meaningful moment to reflect on our own journey in Laos—one that began more than 31 years ago and continues to grow.

ECF’s Story in Laos: From Small Eye Camps to Long-Term, Life-Changing Impact

ECF started working in Laos in 1994, beginning with simple but powerful eye camps in Champasak and Pakxong. At that time, many children suffered from eye diseases and vitamin A deficiency. Our early efforts focused on outreach visits, treatment, and vitamin A distribution. Between 1994 and 1999, we carried out several large campaigns to bring care to children in remote areas. Eventually, these activities became part of the national vaccination program—an important step toward sustainable eye health.

Over the years, we expanded our work to support eye care services in new locations. Today, ECF is active in Vientiane (at the National Ophthalmology Center), Xiengkhuang, and Huaphan provinces.

Since 2012, our focus has been clear:

• prevent avoidable blindness,
• improve access to eye care,
• and reach people living in far, hard-to-access provinces.

To achieve this, we work closely with the Laotian government and local partners. Our activities include:

• School vision screenings so children can learn without being held back by poor eyesight.
• Training doctors, nurses, and community health workers to build long-term, local expertise.
• Community eye care programs so families in remote villages can receive early detection and treatment.

Every year, thousands of people receive help—many seeing clearly again after years of struggling.

Our Current Focus: Strengthening Eye Care in Huaphan Province

Right now, ECF is implementing the Eye Health System Strengthening and Integration Project in Huaphan province, one of the most remote regions in Laos.

What this project aims to achieve

• 7,000 people will receive eye screenings
• 225 patients will receive cataract or other essential eye surgeries
• 1,170 people will receive glasses, helping them see clearly again
• Total project cost: €52,065

This project is designed to build strong, sustainable eye care services—so families in Huaphan can access the care they need close to home, not hours or days away.

Looking Ahead

As Laos and the Netherlands celebrate 50 years of friendship, we’re proud that ECF has been part of this journey for 31 of those years. Our work has only been possible thanks to strong partnerships, dedicated local teams, and the support of people who believe that everyone deserves the chance to see clearly.

We look forward to continuing this mission—reaching more provinces, supporting more communities, and giving thousands more people the gift of sight.