From February 21 to March 7, 2026, some thirty volunteer health workers and translators treated 1,972 patients free of charge in Nong Khiaw, who came from 40 villages.
Location
Muang Ngoy district hospital, Nong Khiaw, Luang Prabang province
Approximate position.
Key figure
1,972 patients treated in 9 days
1,972
People reached
30
Volunteers
Period
2026
Partners
The provincial Ministry of Health, the district authorities, Rotary clubs, CEVA Logistics, TSL Logistics, Humatem, Bouchons 74
Background
The hospital has only one doctor, its director, and two midwives. No caesarean or surgery is possible there: serious cases go to Nambak. Imaging is almost impossible to find in the region, and many people travel for hours to get treatment.
What was done
NK Seeds’ third mission, from February 21 to March 7, 2026, for 40 villages. The equipment, which arrived from France by container on December 26, 2025, was sorted and then transported. The sonographer and the dental technician made a real difference. Charity evening in Marignier on January 24, 2026.
The team
Some thirty people: doctors, a sonographer, a gynecologist, an acupuncturist, dentists, a dental technician, opticians, chiropractors and nine Lao translators, with Sébastien Sisombat as mission leader and Mélissa Lansmant on logistics.
Results
1,972 patients treated over 9 days. • Medicine: 971 consultations (65% women), including 105 ultrasound scans, 97 gynecology consultations and 154 acupuncture sessions. • Dentistry: 312 patients, 64% of them extractions and 34% conservative treatment; 16 dentures fitted for 14 patients. • Optics: 315 patients; 363 pairs of corrective glasses and 133 pairs of sunglasses handed out; 40 cataracts identified. • Chiropractic: 360 consultations, mostly for sciatica, lower back pain and neck, shoulder and knee pain. Obstetric emergencies were transferred to the referral hospital.
What's next
The doctors’ recommendations: add an endovaginal probe to the ultrasound scanner, bring specula, tests and medicines, supplement with vitamin A, screen for glaucoma, and display public health messages in the waiting room (hygiene, cooking fish and shellfish, preparing for pregnancy). The low proportion of children (under 4%) raises questions about access to pediatric care. Follow-up fundraising for patients needing surgery or off-site examinations; a fund of €10,000 announced for post-mission care. Rotary funded a three-room building at the hospital for new mothers. NK Seeds runs the Nong Khiaw mission every year, at the request of the local authorities.
In pictures
The project on the ground
Going further