Türkiye, through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), provided medical equipment to the Newborn Unit of Salavanh Provincial Hospital, in a coordinated push to reduce newborn mortality in Laos.
A handover ceremony was held on 12 February at Salavanh Provincial Hospital, following a two-day national newborn health training at Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane on 10 to11 February. Over 50 medical professionals received on-site training in neonatal treatment and intensive care, equipping doctors and nurses to care for high-risk newborns.
The efforts address a pressing public health challenge.
Laos records a newborn mortality rate of 12 deaths per 1,000 live births and an under-five mortality rate of 28 per 1,000, according to UNICEF 2023 data.
Often, newborn deaths are linked to limited access to specialized proper healthcare, shortages of medical equipment, and gaps in trained staff, particularly in provincial hospitals.
Recent support from international partners, including medical equipment donations and capacity-building programs, seeks to address these gaps.
In Salavan Province, the new equipment and training are expected to strengthen the hospital’s neonatal care capabilities, helping more newborns survive critical early days.
Since 2023, Türkiye has provided health assistance to Laos, which has included hospital construction in Paksong district, ambulance donations, medical equipment for Mittaphab Hospital, and doctor training programs in Türkiye.
Turkish Ambassador Oya Yazar and Lao Minister of Health Baykham Khattiya agreed to deepen cooperation, strengthen medical capacity and institutional ties between two countries.
