The German Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and VinaCapital Foundation (VCF) presented nine medical equipment to a health center in Vietnam’s central Quang Ngai Province on Friday.

These equipment are essential for taking care of the health of newborn babies and their mothers, Chau Nguyen Thuong, director of the Son Tay District Health Center, said at the presentation ceremony on the same day.

They include one continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, two jaundice lamps; one electric infusion pump, one neonatal heating bed, one patient monitor with five parameters, and three endotracheal intubation sets.

In late October last year, the Consulate General sent specialists to the health center to provide intensive training for local doctors in neonatal resuscitation and emergency care so that they can effectively use the donated equipment. 

Son Tay is a remote mountainous district with more than 92 percent of the population being ethnic minority people. It is also one of the poorest districts in the country.

The lack of essential neonatal medical equipment in remote district health centers, including that in Son Tay, has long been one of the leading causes of infant mortality and increases the rate of unnecessary referrals, causing overload for medical staff at health facilities of higher levels. 

The infant and maternal mortality rates in Son Tay are two to four times higher than the national averages.

Tina Spicher, Deputy Consul General of Germany in Ho Chi Minh City, said she was very pleased that the consulate general has the opportunity to cooperate with VCF in this most important medical field. 

The above medical devices are part of VCF’s ‘Nurturing Life’ program, whose goal is to reduce infant mortality in Vietnam, especially in areas where people have no access to quality health services.

Over the past 13 years, this program has donated 353 medical devices in 11 provinces, helping to treat and save the lives of 123,962 children in Vietnam.

Through the program, VCF has supported the provision of essential medical equipment to two hospitals and one health center in Quang Ngai, along with training on neonatal resuscitation for doctors and nurses at three health centers in remote districts of the province. 

This year, VCF will continue to sponsor 19 essential medical equipment for two health centers in the province’s Tra Bong and Ly Son Districts, along with providing intensive training for medical staff in Ly Son.

Rad Kivette, general director of VCF, said his agency was honored to partner with the German Consulate General to bring quality healthcare improvements to disadvantaged and vulnerable communities, according to the VCF website.  

“We are extremely grateful that this meaningful sponsorship from the Consulate General of Germany in Ho Chi Minh City not only opens up new opportunities for cooperation but also strengthens the strategic relationship between Vietnam and Germany,” Kivette said.  

He hoped that the award ceremony would serve as a solid start for a long-term and reliable cooperation relationship between Germany and VCF.

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