The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recently gave information technology and other equipment to the Ministry of Health's Hygiene and Prevention Department.

According to a statement from FAO, the information technology and other equipment included a car, two motorbikes, four computers, laptops, as well as printers and other equipment. The equipment is valued at more than US$30,000.

The equipment will allow the ministry to continue its important work on projects relating to nutrition and food security.

FAO's Capacity Building for Food Security and Better Nutrition project aims to enhance quality at different administrative levels, especially at the village level in participatory management of community-based food and nutrition programmes.

Since April 2009, under the FAO Capacity Building for Food Security and Better Nutrition programme, FAO has helped draft a National Capacity-Building Plan for Food and Nutrition Security which has been accepted by key ministries.

It is the first ever such plan in the country. Laos will be the leading country along the Mekong River working for sustainable food and nutritional security for its people

The project has also developed a National Training Guide for Basic Nutrition which will be used in 11 priority provinces and 55 districts.