During our recent visit to Sekong Province, we were struck by an unsettling sight: dense haze covering the hills in early April, a time when the air should be clear. Even brief exposure outdoors made our breathing uncomfortable. Back in Vientiane, the morning air felt similarly heavy, and what used to be a refreshing walk became a struggle. These are warning signs of a growing threat to public health. Communities need better communication about how polluted air affects their health.
Across Laos, slash-and-burn practices remain a necessary and often unavoidable part of land preparation, especially for communities with limited alternatives. However, this year's pollution has reached alarming levels, with over 16,000 fire hotspots recorded in early 2026, pushing PM2.5 levels beyond safe thresholds nationwide. On 3 April 2026, all provinces exceeded the Air Quality Index (AQI) 100, and several northern provinces recorded AQI above 200. Even Vientiane reached AQI 158, and on severe days PM2.5 hit AQI 217.
A Growing Threat to Children
What worries us most is the impact on children and unborn babies. Their lungs are still developing, and they breathe faster than adults. Exposure to heavy smoke or high PM2.5 levels even for a short period can lead to lifelong consequences such as:
Reduced lung development
Higher risk of asthma
Repeated respiratory infections
Increased vulnerability to heart and lung diseases later in life
For pregnant women, exposure to polluted air can affect both maternal health and early child development. If a child is born on a day when pollution levels are high, what does that mean for their first breath? What will their lung capacity be five or ten years from now?
We must ask these uncomfortable questions, because the answers determine the future health of the children. Children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with chronic illnesses are particularly vulnerable. Polluted air harms lung development increases respiratory infections and raises long-term health risks. Communities need clear information to understand these dangers and protect themselves.
Strengthening the Climate-resilient Health System
Through Save the Children International’s collaboration with the Government of Lao PDR under the Green Climate Fund–supported project, we are working to strengthen the ability of the health system to respond to climate-related threats. This includes:
Strengthening leadership and governance on climate and health
Strengthening health information system on climate and health
Improving early warning systems
Training health workers in climate and health
Supporting climate resilient health facilities
Building community awareness about climate and health risks
But health systems alone cannot solve this issue.
When the Hidden Costs Outweigh the Gains
While slash-and-burn practices remain essential for many farmers, the health consequences of the resulting air pollution are often far more costly than the economic gains from agricultural productivity. Families pay for polluted air through higher medical expenses, lost income due to illness, reduced school attendance, and long-term declines in lung capacity among children.
These hidden costs are rarely discussed at the community level, yet they quietly shape the well-being of entire households. This is why clear, accessible communication about the health risks of air pollution is not only important, but also essential. Families have the right to understand the risks so they can make informed decisions that protect both their livelihoods and their health.
We need coordinated solutions that involve agriculture, environment, health, education, and community leadership. We need stronger community-centered communication: regular air quality updates, school awareness programs, guidance for farmers, health care guidance for communities, and locally appropriate communication channels. Farmers should not be blamed; they need support, alternatives, and knowledge to remain safe while maintaining livelihoods.
Acting Now for Future Generations
Laos is known for its natural beauty and clean environment, but this identity is now at risk. The haze in Sekong, the smog in Vientiane, and the rising temperatures are not temporary inconveniences, they are signals that demand actions such as community awareness campaign on health impact of pollution, youth led village level waste management campaign (no burning of agricultural residue) etc.
If we do nothing, this will be our reality every year. But if we act now, together, it is possible to reduce risks, and we can protect the air we breathe and safeguard the health of future generations.
The well-being of our children depends on the decisions we make today
Prepared By Kuber Adhikari and Nar Chhetri,
Save the Children International Laos
