“Zone 516" consists of nine villages located on the coast of Nam Ngum lake, a hundred kilometers north of Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

There is a health center which benefits to all residents of the nine villages: 1066 families or 7420 people, including 3658 women, come here for treatment. The health center has a team of 14 people: one expert, one Docteur, four pharmacists, one doctor of lower grade, 4 nurses and 2 nurses in training.

District or provincial hospital are far. The tracks leading to it are difficult. Or, you have to take the water route across the lake, which is only practicable during the day and when there is no strong wind on the lake.

Since 2007, Solidarasia present tours on the Nam Ngum lake and is pleased to organize encounters between travelers and people if the zone 516, population in majority of the Hmong ethnic minority. You can see the page http://solidarasia.com/voyage-laos-lac-de-nam-ngum/ about it.

Thanks to the solidarity fund collected by the french associations for solidarity and tourism, Vision du Monde and La Route des Sens, Solidarasia contributed to various clinic improvement projects. In 2008, the villagers were able to electrify and ensure water supply. In 2009, they tiled the floor. With these improvements, the population trust more the health center and the number of people treated here has increased (from 259 people to 476 people per month in 2013).

In 2014, officials of the clinic asked for help to buy blood analysis equipment. This material became necessary to diagnose diseases such as dengue fever and malaria, still quite present in this region during the rainy season. 2 persons of the medical team were trained by the health district office to use blood analysis equipment.

The machine has cost 38'927'000 kips (3900 in 2014).
The health center has contributed with 13,000,000 kip (EUR 1300), the district health office with 10,000,000 kip (1000 EUR), as well as products for the utilisation.
Solidarasia sought the help of the french associations for solidarity and tourism, Vision du Monde and La Route des Sens. They have contributed financially with 15'927'000 kip (1600EUR), in equal shares, representing 42% of the budget.