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Ready to Bring Clean Birth Kits for Laos

I am actively looking now for an organization/hospital in Laos that would like free clean birth kits, as well as training for their pre-exisiting staff.  Articles like the one that follows about Xekong province in Laos makes me want to get started NOW.

While the Millennium Development Goals aim for 260 maternal deaths out of every 100,000 births by 2015 currently this province has 406 per 100,000 births and infant mortality stands at 48 per 1,000 births. In the under five age group the mortality rate is now 65 per 1,000 children. UGH!

I understand that clean birth kits are not enough to solve the problem but they can address sepsis and improve birth outcomes.

Here is the article:

High maternal, child mortality rate persists in Xekong

The maternal and child mortality rate in Xekong province is likely to still be high by the year 2015, Xekong provincial Health Department Director Mr Visan Inthavong said on Thursday.

This is one of many challenges facing the Xekong authorities as the province tries to achieve the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, and will be a priority from now until then.

“The maternal mortality rate in Xekong province is now 406 per 100,000 births and infant mortality stands at 48 per 1,000 births. In the under five age group the mortality rate is now 65 per 1,000 children. The MDG target is to reduce the death rate of birthing mothers to 260 out of every 100,000 births by 2015. But I don’t think Xekong province can achieve this goal,” Mr Visan said.

In 2015, we estimate that the maternal mortality rate in Xekong will be 310 per 100,000 births, the infant mortality rate will remain at 1 percent, and among under fives it will drop to 53 percent, Mr Visan said.

In other areas, 64 percent of people in the province have access to clean drinking water but 70 percent don’t have a hygienic toilet they can use on a daily basis.

Last year, more than 27,000 people received health check-ups at hospitals and dispensaries, which is an increase from previous years.

Mr Visan said the healthcare network covers 98 percent of the province with a provincial hospital, three district hospitals, 16 dispensaries and 27 private pharmacies.

However, these facilities are not enough to meet the needs of the province as it develops and Xekong requires more medical staff, health facilities and modern equipment in the near future to achieve the MDGs and lower the maternal and child mortality rate by 2015.

“To reduce the maternal and child mortality rate by 2015 we have implemented a number of initiatives. These include a project to provide free treatment to children under five years old and a free health service for mothers and children. More low-income families now have access to our services throughout the province,” Mr Visan said.

Xekong province hopes to build a new 120-bed hospital with modern medical equipment, and new dispensaries for people living in remote areas that are inaccessible by road.

Xekong is the poorest province in Laos and is home to more than 100,000 people, of whom 90 percent live in rural areas. There are four districts: Kaleum, Lamam, Dakcheung, and Thataeng. Dakcheung and Kaleum are on the government’s list of the 45 poorest districts in the country.

Source: Vientiane Times
(Latest Update October 29, 2011)

Swiss doctors help Lao newborns survive

Article in Lao Voices about Lao baby docs getting a skills update:

Health officials are confident of a significant reduction in neonatal death rates now that the Swiss-Laos Hospital Project has updated the skills of Lao neonatologists nationwide.

This was the first opportunit y for many Lao neonatologists to share their experiences with skilled Swiss experts from the project, which aims to help Laos reach the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on reducing the death rates of mothers and children by 2015.

Dr Marion Monkhoff (second right) explains the care of newborns, witnessed by Dr Bouavanh Saensathit ( fourth right ) and Swiss neonatologists.

The specific targets agreed by the Ministry of Health under the MDGs are to reduce the death rate of birthing mothers to 260 out of every 100,000 births by 2015. Most recent statistics put this figure at 300 in 2010.

The other target is for a reduction in the death rate of children under one year old from 55 (2010) down to 45 (by 2015) out of every 1,000, and for children under five a reduction from 75 (2010) to 70 (by 2015) out of every 1,000.

Vice President of the Swiss-Laos Hospital Project, Dr Marion Monkhoff, said on Friday the project was very pleased to join the Lao Ministry of Health in working to achieve MDG 4 on reducing the death rate of infants and MDG 5 on the improvement of maternal health.

“The project aims to help all newborns to survive with good health,” she said.

During the three-day training course, Lao and Swiss neonatologists not only covered modern theory of neonatal and midwifery procedures, but also the practical field to make sure they can help newborns in the best way possible.

After the training course, the project provided participants with essential equipment for the care of newborns. Participants will return to their hometowns to pass on their skills to newly-qualified colleagues, thus further ensuring Laos achieves its MDGs in relation to mother and child health.

Director of the Mother and Child Health Hospital, Associate Prof. Dr Bouavanh Saensathit, said that continuous improvement and training of provincial neonatologists was the correct way to proceed, in light of maternal and infant mortality rates remaining stubbornly high in some rural areas.

“The Swiss assistance supports the Ministry of Health’s policy to lower the mortality rate of mothers and children throughout the country,” he said. The financial contribution provided by the Swiss-Laos Hospital Project varies between US$0.5 million and US$1 million per annum. It is envisaged that the project will continue to help Laos for many years to come.

The Swiss-Laos Hospital Project is an initiative by Swiss doctors, midwives, nurses and project participants, who have worked for improvements in the medical care available to mothers and children in Laos since 2000.

Source: Vientiane Times
By Xayxana Leukai
(Latest Update March 20, 2012)

WHO – 10 Facts on Child Health

OK after reading the Top 10 for maternal health, I am hooked.  Here is the summary of the WHO’s fantastic glimpse into children’s health:

1. The first month is the most dangerous.  “Preterm birth, birth asphyxia and infections cause most newborn deaths.”  After one month – until 5 years – the primary causes of death are:  pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria.

2. 3 million babies die per year in the first month.  Prenatal care, birth attendants and postnantal attention to: “breathing and warmth, hygienic cord and skin care, and exclusive breastfeeding”.

3. Pneumonia is the leading killer of under-5s.

4. “Exclusive breastfeeding helps prevent diarrhoea (leading killer of young children) among young children.”

5. Malaria is a leading killer in Africa but nets can prevent the spread.

6.  HIV+ mothers can prevent transmission to their babies by: “use of antiretrovirals, as well as safer delivery and feeding practices”.

7. Breast is best: “Optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding help prevent malnutrition and can save about a million children.”

8. “Three-quarters of child deaths occur in Africa and South-East Asia.”

9. 2/3rd of child deaths can be prevented by:” low-cost interventions, and effective primary care up to five years of age.”

10. Greater investment is needed.

 

 

Mobile Clinics in Laos

I want to learn more about these mobile clinics in Laos … and perhaps contribute to the mission vis a vis clean birth kits.

http://www.k4health.org/toolkits/communitybasedfp/country_experiences/mobile-rh-clinics_laovillages

Mobile Reproductive Health Clinics Make Motherhood Safer in Remote Lao Village

Source: United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA], 2005

Working in cooperation with the the Lao Women’s Union, UNICEF and others, the mobile clinic teams vaccinate children and provide a range of reproductive health services, information and counselling for adults and adolescents 15 and older—including family planning, prenatal care, treatment of sexually transmitted infections and education on HIV/AIDS prevention. Over two days, one team will provide services for everyone who needs them. The team will stay overnight in the village, showing health education videos in the evening.

Save the Children’s Facts on Health in Laos

Here’s a quick look at Laos health stats thanks compliments of Save the Children.

The health situation of women and children in Laos is amongst the poorest in Southeast Asia; Infant mortality rate is 70 per 1000 live births and under five mortality claims 98 per 1000 live births1.

Every day 36 children under-five die due to preventable and treatable diseases.

Percentages of underweight children have been almost unchanged between 1990 and 2006 (40% and 37.1%) and the prevalence of stunting in under-fives is up to 40.4%.

According to UNICEF/WHO official estimate (2007), immunisation coverage has declined—only 27% of children by their first birthday have received all eight recommended vaccinations2.

Maternal mortality remains very high at 405/100,000 live births, approximately 800 deaths per year or 2 deaths per day.

A high percentage of children (71.5%) are born to mothers who received no antenatal care and 84.8% of pregnant women give birth at home3 .

These are clear indicators of low health service utilization and poor quality health services/facilities.

1 Lao Reproductive Health Survey 2005, this is the official figure and most reliable for reference – the 2008 survey, although it quotes lower figures is not ‘official’

2 Strategy and Planning Framework for the Integrated Package of Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Services 2009 – 2015

3 Lao Reproductive Health Survey 2005

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