The health sector in Lao PDR is responsible for the achievement of three specific MDG goals, namely to reduce child mortality(MDG 4), to improve maternal health(MDG 5), and to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases(MDG 6). In addition, the health sector is also directly connected to one target from MDG 1 (to halve the proportion of people suffering from hunger) and one target from MDG 7 (to halve the proportionof people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation) as access to safe water and sanitation falls under the mandate of the Ministry of Health in Lao PDR due to the direct consequences that it hason the health related well-being of the population.