Breath of Life: breath of fresh air for newborns

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. Concentrating resources on solutions for the first four weeks of life, the group focused on design and distribution solely for neonates. Tackling head-on the global problem of expensive donated equipment, Breath of Life designed durable, inexpensive machines and translated directions into local languages. Local manufacturing means the controls are in the local language and that each hospital has easy access to replacement parts and continuous technical support. The Breath of Life machines have no consumables cutting down on ongoing costs. The program aims to equip and empower medical institutions at all levels to provide appropriate, responsive newborn care from national hospitals to rural clinics. A five-year R&D process resulted in a suite of three life-saving machines designed and produced in Vietnam. The equipment is designed and manufactured by KSE Medical. Their package of neonatal technologies include the following:

• Continuous Poisitive Air Pressure (CPAP)
• LED phototherapy
• LED bilibed
• Infant resuscitation station and infant warmer
• Pulse oximeter
• Light meter
• Baby bonnet

The Maternova site--under Tools-- covers three of these devices. “Breath of Life”'s  CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine,  their LED Phototherapy machine: a device to treat pathological Jaundice in newborns and their Infant Warmer.

In addition to the fact that these machines were designed, researched and manufactured in Vietnam, the ability to purchase a set of neonate-specific technologies from a single supplier is appealing. We look forward to hearing from clinics and hospitals who have used these machines. Luciano Moccia, International Coordinator can be reached at luciano.moccia@eastmeetswest.org. Please see our main website for information on other innovative products for mothers and neonates

* A quick disclaimer: Maternova is a hub for information exchange on innovation-- we do not 'endorse' particular brands or products. Wherever possible we will connect to literature on the products that include clinical trials. In addition we hope to solicit user input on products and how they perform in the field.