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Newborns Vietnam launches project funded by Vietnam Trail Marathon

The neonatal mortality rate in Son La Province (home of VTM) is currently twice the national average,  making this new project of vital importance. With the funding from Topas, training, equipment and outreach to remote communities will help ensure this figure is improved. 

 

Ahead of Vietnam Trail Marathon 2021, the British Ambassador to Vietnam, Gareth Ward and David Lloyd, Director of Sport at Topas, along with the Vice Chairman of Son La Province People’s Committee and a delegation of officials visited Moc Chau General Hospital to mark the launch of the Newborns Vietnam Provincial Hospital Training Programme in Son La Province.

The trip to Moc Chau General Hospital was filled with optimism and enthusiasm with a warm welcome from the Moc Chau People’s Committee and Hospital Director Vi Hong Ky leaving everyone inspired to take the first step in what is an exciting new partnership with the Son La Province Department of Health.

During the visit, Newborns and Topas pledged to build a network of hospitals that will provide high quality care for mothers and babies with a focus on health and happiness, as well as outreach to involve more remote communities. This pledge is especially important as the neonatal mortality rate in Son La Province is currently twice the national average, making the road ahead a long one.

The first step on this road will be to enroll all 3 hospitals in the Centre of Excellence for Breastfeeding programme led by Alive and Thrive and will be followed by the hospitals receiving deliveries of new lifesaving equipment, along with the implementation of Early Essential Newborn Care, a set of key interventions including skin to skin between mother and baby and timely breastfeeding, led by UK specialists.

Moc Chau Hospital Director Vi Hong Ky was extremely pleased with the visit saying, “The chance for international training and to become a Breastfeeding Centre of Excellence is a great opportunity to improve the care of all our mothers and babies.”

Suzanna Lubran of Newborns Vietnam said: “This programme was made possible by funding from Vietnam Trail Marathon and Topas Travel Vietnam, who continue to show the power of sport in action and that together we can reduce the mortality rate and give the joy of a healthy baby to more families.”