It has been exactly 12 months since the program launched its first support project at Bac Ai Medical Center, funded by donations from benefactors at last year’s Survive to Thrive Dinner. From a small and simple healthcare facility primarily focused on first aid and patient transfer, Bac Ai Medical Center has now become more confident in emergency care and treatment for newborns with complications.
A notable example is the case of Mrs. Cada, a Raglai ethnic mother. She was admitted to give birth to her second child at 38 weeks of pregnancy. However, arriving late at the medical center and the 16-year gap between her two pregnancies made the delivery highly risky. When the baby showed signs of fetal distress, the medical team had to race against time to save both mother and child. At the moment of birth, the mother, weighing only 48 kilograms, was exhausted, and the newborn suffered from severe asphyxia and low birth weight, with an Apgar score of just 6 out of 10. Thanks to the newly trained medical team and modern equipment sponsored by the program, the doctors promptly, effectively, and successfully intervened.
The baby was dried, warmed, suctioned to clear the airways, placed under an infant warmer to prevent hypothermia, and given nutrients via specialized infusion pumps. As a result, the baby’s Apgar score gradually improved to 7, then 8, and finally 9 out of 10. The newborn overcame the critical phase, regained rosy skin, and the cry that filled the delivery room felt like a miracle, easing the stress and fatigue of the dedicated medical staff.
Mrs. Cada’s baby is one of more than 57,000 little lives saved by the program throughout its 15-year journey.
Neonatal Care not only provides essential medical equipment but also empowers local doctors and nurses to enhance neonatal care capacity. Every safe delivery, like the case of mother and baby Cada, is a vivid testament to the program’s lasting impact. Join us in giving every child born in Vietnam a healthy start to life.
