Swiss-Lao project promotes newborn care
The Swiss-Lao Hospital Project has provided medical equipment worth about US$1 million for Lao hospitals, aiming to improve conditions for new mothers and newborns around the country. Deputy Director General of the Mother and Newborn Hospital, Dr Sivanesay Chanthavongsouk, said this week the equipment would help to improve the quality of medical services for mothers and children. Switzerland’s assistance supports the Ministry of Health’s policy to reduce the number of deaths among mothers and babies throughout the country, he added. According to the 2012 Lao Social Indicator Survey, the death rate of birthing mothers is 357 out of every 100,000 births. The death rate of children under one year is 68 out of every 1,000 live births, and for children under five it is 79 out of every 1,000 live births. The equipment donated by Switzerland includes incubators, phototherapy lamps, ultrasound machines, warming beds, gynaecology chairs and other items related to mother and child healthcare.
