advice sought: SE Asia

[pulque]

Planning a trip to Northern Laos in early February. Volunteering with a hospital medical mission for the first week (at least). I seek Pearls of Wisdom on a number of fronts from QPs...

1) Is Lao Language similar enough in vocabulary/grammer/tonality to Thai so that I can study Thai (Lao language CDs are hard to find).
2) What diseases and illnesses would likely be encountered at a hospital in Luang Prabang, or in more rural areas?
3) What items should be in the lay-person's kit?
4) Comments on immunizations / antibiotics / cultural differences
5) By any chance, know of any group in any neighboring country seeking unskilled tsunami relief volunteers?

Thanks in advance!
-pulque