Project: Friends Without A Border (Lao Friends Hospital for Children)
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Mission: Friends Without A Border aims to build a healthier future for children in Southeast Asia through a holistic model of “treatment, education, and prevention”. They build children’s hospitals in Southeast Asia from where they provide free, international-quality medical care; train local healthcare professionals; and deliver community health education programs.
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Description: In 2016, Friends Without A Border opened the first neonatal unit in northern Laos, as part of its comprehensive Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC). Taking advantage of its proximity to the provincial hospital’s birthing suite, and responding to an increasing number of neonate patients at the hospital, the unit aims to train local health care staff in international-standard neonatal care, provide support and education to new parents, and ultimately help reduce the neonatal mortality rate of the country, the highest in the Southeast Asia region at 30.1 per 1,000 live births.
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Donation Impact
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How will your donation be used?1. LFHC admits over 50 newborn babies per month, with capacity for up to 8 neonates at any one time. A contribution of $50 provides the necessary medications and consumables such as vitamins, antibiotics, linen, diapers, bottles, and CPAP supplies, and covers the cost of pathology and radiology tests for an average neonate stay. The first 28 days after birth are essential for a child’s growth, meaning your support will help build the foundations for their healthy development. 2. The neonatal unit is staffed by 6 nurses on rotating shifts, with inpatient department doctors providing 24-hour cover to the unit. Nurses and doctors are locally hired and receive ongoing specialized training on neonatal care. They then share the new acquired knowledge with district and community health workers and students who come for training at the hospital on a regular basis. A contribution of $500 sponsors a nurse’s salary and training for a month. |
Field Updates 2017
(Neonatal Unit - Lao Friends Hospital for Children)
Field Updates 2016
A set of twin girls, Khangvham A and B, were both born at the provincial hospital on May 8th, approximately 4 weeks premature. Khangvham A, weighed 1600g (3.5 lb), while Khangvham B weighed 1430g (3.15 lb).
When they first arrived at the hospital they had apnea, trouble breathing and had to be woken up to breathe. In order to keep the babies awake, our staff gave them IV caffeine and oral caffeine. For feeding, the nurses attempted NG feeds through the nose but the feeds did not digest properly and stayed in the stomach. Feeding was then switched over to IV fluids for a few days so that they could gain weight. After several days of IV fluids they went back on NG tubes, which was well received, and now have started oral feeding (breast feeding) twice a day. The twins are both gaining weight and should be able to go home in the next few weeks. |
Baby Thick was brought to the hospital in early April after her mom went into premature labor due a motorbike accident.
On arrival she was 804g (1.77 lb) suffering from low glucose and respiratory distress. She spent a week on CPAP, assisting her breathing and helping to stabilize her condition, and an extended period of time under the infant warmer to help maintain her temperature. Since then, despite a few ups and downs in her condition, she's gained strength and is now breastfeeding and maintaining her own temperature and consistent breathing - at the grand weight of 1300g (2.86 lb). She still has another month to go until she's big enough to go home (1800g or 3.96 lb). Mortality rate for this birth weight is extremely high even in Western countries. We are very encouraged by our success to date in the neonatal unit. |