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Save the Children in Laos

Save the Children’s Laos Health Program has had great success in the area of the country that they have been serving for 20 years.  They have seen an 80% drop in maternal and infant mortality compared with the whole of Laos.  But by their own admission there is a long way to go:

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.

Laos…Here I (with Clean Birth Kits) Come!

OK my departure is hardly imminent but I have received interest from an organization currently delivering medical services to women and children in Laos.  I am thrilled!

I love that part of the world…feel so connected to the people and I believe strongly that, due to the high rates of homebirth and birth-related mortality, that clean birth kits will help.

I am so excited to get going on this.

Why does Laos need Clean Birth Kits?

Laos’ moms and babies need help.  From CIA The World Factbook:

57.77 infant deaths/1,000 live births.  35th worst in the world.

580 maternal deaths/100,000 live births . 20th worst in the world.

Clean birth kits have proven effective in preventing infection, which causes 1 in 5 birth-related maternal deaths worldwide.

In  Laos, 80% of births happen at home — only 20% with an attendant, according to doctors on the ground.  Studies have shown that in the home setting clean birth kits are particularly effective.  Analysis of 20,000 home births in rural areas of India , Nepal , and Bangladesh showed that the “use of the birth kits was linked to a dramatic drop (48%) in neonatal mortality.”Study here.

The hygienic benefits of clean birth kits can make the difference for Lao moms and babies, by preventing infection for both.

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)

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