Enhancing neonatal care at Phong Tho District Medical Center with essential medical equipment

VinaCapital Foundation's Survive to Thrive program not only provides essential neonatal equipment and training to enhance rural hospitals' capacity for neonatal care but also offers ongoing support to the beneficiary healthcare units for a minimum of 2 years. This journey allows us to witness remarkable stories of saving newborns in remote areas.

Sung Binh Minh, a two-month-old belonging to the H'Mong ethnic group in Hoang Then commune, Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province, contracted pneumonia during a sudden cold spell in the Northwest mountains.

In September 2023, Minh was admitted to the Phong Tho District Medical Center, showing symptoms of bluish lips, wheezing, rapid heartbeat, and mild abdominal distension. His delicate lungs struggled to handle the cold mountain air. Previously, providing treatment for newborns like Minh was challenging due to a lack of medical equipment. However, thanks to the donor’s support through the Survive to Thrive program, essential medical devices were supplied to the Phong Tho District Medical Center in June 2022. Minh received comprehensive care, including nebulization twice a day, specialized fluid infusion through an infusion pump, oxygen therapy to support his lungs, and close monitoring of vital signs using a patient monitoring device.

After nine days of treatment, Minh recovered well without requiring transfer to a distant hospital. Minh was among the 102 children who received timely treatment at Phong Tho District Medical Center using equipment from the Survive to Thrive program. The availability of essential equipment greatly facilitated the treatment of premature infants and newborns in the area, reducing the necessity for referrals to higher-level facilities and minimizing associated risks.

Sung Binh Minh's recovery has brought immense joy and inspiration to our team. We are deeply grateful to our generous donor, Ms. Kim Ngan from Minh Ha Company, for her invaluable support in partnering with the Survive to Thrive program. Through her contributions, essential neonatal care equipment was provided to the Phong Tho District Medical Center, safeguarding the lives of newborns and providing assistance to mothers in rural and mountainous regions.