Launching our new training programme in Son La Province

Yesterday was a great day for Newborns as we launched the Newborns Vietnam Provincial Hospital Training Programme in Son La Province. We were thrilled to be joined by the British Ambassador to Vietnam, Gareth Ward and David Lloyd, Director of Sport from Topas Travel, along with the Vice Chairman of Son La Province People’s Committee, the leader of Moc Chau District People’s Committee and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Health.

Our 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 us inspired to take the first step in what is an exciting new partnership with the Son La Province Department of Health.

During the visit we 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.

Our first step on this road will be to enrol 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 our 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.”

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