Nearly one quarter of newborn deaths result from babies failing to draw their first breath after birth. Yet, researchers estimate that newborn resuscitation could save 30 percent of the 814,000 babies lost to this condition each year. The process requires equipment and training that many low-resource birthing settings lack, however, greatly limiting the number of babies around the world with access to this life-saving--or life-giving--practice.

Breath of Life is a program that directly addresses infant mortality in Southeast Asia through low-cost innovative clinical solutions. The East Meets West Foundation is a nonprofit which began the Breath of Life program in response to high infant mortality rates in Vietnam and elsewhere. Breath of Life saw the lack of attention and resources for neonatal mortality as a problem they could address.