As part of the Laos Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Program, carried out in cooperation with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Turkish Neonatology Association, a 14-member Lao health delegation comprising 7 doctors and 7 nurses participated in a comprehensive theoretical and practical training program on neonatal health in Türkiye.
As part of the program, the Lao health delegation received theoretical and practical training under the auspices of theTurkish Neonatology Association. During the training, the delegation visited neonatal units at Ankara University, Gazi University and Etlik City Hospital, where they had the opportunity to observe clinical practices on site.
Theoretical and Practical Training in Neonatal Health
During the first part of the training program, sessions conducted by the Turkish Neonatology Association covered topics including the initial assessment and examination of newborns, neonatal jaundice and phototherapy, respiratory distress in newborns, non-invasive respiratory support, basic care and feeding of premature infants, and kangaroo care.
Sessions for doctors focused particularly on respiratory distress in newborns and non-invasive respiratory support, while the training for nurses included practical instruction on basic newborn care, temperature control, monitoring, and care of newborns receiving oxygen and CPAP.
Türkiye’s Experience in Neonatal Health Shared
The training program in Türkiye included not only the transfer of theoretical knowledge but also direct observation of clinical practices by healthcare professionals and the examination of neonatal care models at different healthcare institutions.
In this context, Lao healthcare workers observed neonatal intensive care services on site at various healthcare institutions in Türkiye and gained experience in clinical operations, patient monitoring, teamwork, neonatal care practices, and the use of medical devices.
The program aimed not only to improve the professional knowledge and practical capacity of Lao healthcare personnel but also to transfer Türkiye’s knowledge and experience in neonatal health to the Lao healthcare system.
Cooperation Supported by Fieldwork in Laos
TİKA’s neonatal health initiatives in Laos are not limited to training conducted in Türkiye. As part of the field component of the program, a neonatal health training program was held at Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane in February, with 51 pediatricians and nurses from 17 provincial hospitals acrossLaos participating.
The training, conducted by experts from the Turkish Neonatology Association, covered case management, bedside practices in neonatal intensive care units, and the use of medical devices.
As part of the program, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Saravan Provincial Hospital in southern Laos was also refurbished, and healthcare personnel received practical training on the use of the newly installed equipment and emergency neonatal care.
During fieldwork carried out in 2026, the Bolikhamxay and Khammouane Provincial Hospitals were also visited to assess the current condition, human resources, medical capacity, and needs of their neonatal units on site.
From Capacity Building to Sustainable Cooperation
The Laos Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Program aims not only to train healthcare personnel but also to expand the training nationwide and build long-term capacity.
Accordingly, work is underway on a “training of trainers” and cascading training model, under which healthcare personnel who have received training will subsequently provide training to other healthcare workers in their own country.
The program also plans to carry out activities aimed at improving neonatal intensive care infrastructure in areas where it is needed, providing medical equipment support, increasing healthcare personnel’s capacity to use and maintain equipment, monitoring maternal and neonatal health data, and strengthening referral mechanisms.
Expansion Across the ASEAN Region Targeted
The work carried out in Laos forms part of TİKA’s health cooperation with Southeast Asian countries, as well as its regional cooperation approach within the ASEAN framework.
Certificates Presented
A certificate ceremony was held at TİKA for the Lao health delegation that successfully completed the training program in Türkiye.
Speeches were delivered at the ceremony by Dursun Ali Yaşacan, Head of TİKA’s Department of East and South Asia, the Pacific and Latin America; Esin Koç, President of the Turkish Neonatology Association; Ömer Erdeve, Coordinator of the Laos Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Program; Program Advisor Emel Okulu; and Douangphone Soulivong, an official from the Department of Health and Rehabilitation of the Lao Ministry of Health.
The ceremony highlighted the importance of efforts to strengthen friendship and cooperation in healthcare betweenTürkiye and Laos, and certificates were presented to the Lao healthcare workers who participated in the training program.
In line with its “People First” approach, TİKA aims to continue its efforts to improve capacity in maternal, newborn and child health in Laos in cooperation with relevant Lao authorities and international organizations.
