International Cooperation

Thai – Laos Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre
 
The Hand-over Ceremony of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre
December 16, 2005, Police General Chidchai Vanasatidya, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, along with H.E. Mr. Soubanh Srithirath, Minister to the President Office and Chairman of LCDC co-chaired the Hand-over Ceremony of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Champasak Province, Lao PDR.. The Royal Thai Government has contributed and constructed the 24,492,000-Baht centre including buildings, medical equipments and other related supplies for the Government of Lao PDR.. After 10 months of construction, Thai government has dedicated 20.9 million Baht for 8 buildings - which are general administration building, detoxification building, two of rehabilitation and recreation buildings, cafeteria building, vocational training building, staff-residence building - as well as other supplies and infrastructures, i.e., hospital sign, parking lot, fence, flag pole and surrounding water-pipe lines. In addition, there are 2 millions Baht of medical equipments and supplies, i.e., medical apparatuses, tables, chairs, PC computers, wheelchairs, patient beds, patient waiting seats, an ambulance and etc.. The center is located in 30 Rai (4.8 hectares) of parameter, approximately, of Baan Nam-Aom, 21 kilometres away from Pakse, Champassak Province.

Nonetheless, the centre is subjected to be the symbol and threshold of the 55th anniversary of Thai-Lao Diplomatic Protocol as well as the cooperation on drugs control between the two countries.
 
         
 
 
 
         
 
         
 
 
 
         
 
 
 
         
 
         
 
 
         
       
 
 

Backgrounds

During the 4th Thai-Lao Meeting on Drug Law Enforcement Cooperation in Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR had requested Thailand for technical and financial support on the establishment of drug treatment and rehabilitation centre. Later on, Thai survey team, ONCB and Ministry of Public Health officers, went into the prominent site-area from 23 to 25 April 2003. The proposed site is located in Baan Nam-Aom, 21 kilometres away from Pakse, Champassak Province. The approximated area is around 30 Rai (4.8 hectares). All the cost and details of construction, i.e., building and facilities, and the training of local staffs had been estimated and collected.
 
   
   
         
 
October 28, 2003, the Royal Thai Government had approved for 24.5-million-Baht fund for the foundation of the above-mentioned centre in Lao PDR.
 

March 12, 2004, the ceremony of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Thai – Lao Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre has been held at the Ministry of Justice of Thailand in Bangkok. The MOU have been signed by Police General Chidchai Vanasatidya, Secretary-General, NCB, on behalf of Royal Thai Kingdom, and Mr. Linthong Phetsavan, Head of the Permanent Secretariat of LCDC on behalf of Lao People Democratic Republic. H.E. Mr. Pongthep Thepkanchana, Minister of Ministry of Justice, Royal Thai Government and H.E. Mr. Soubanh Srithirath, Minister to the President Office and Chairman of LCDC, Lao PDR Government are the distinguished witnesses of the ceremony.

   
 
 

March 20, 2004, the Foundation Stone-Laying Ceremony of Thai – Laos Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre had been held at the area site. The ceremony has been co-chair by H.E. Mr. Pongthep Thepkanchana, Minister of Ministry of Justice, Royal Thai Government and H.E. Mr. Soubanh Srithirath, Minister to the President Office and Chairman of LCDC, Lao PDR Government.
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
by chapchai@yahoo.com