Breath of Life

So let's see what Breath of Life is really all about..

East Meets West's website says that the Breath of Life BOL program develops “customized, clinical solutions to developing countries”. They argue that neonatal care has “the least investment, research and innovation” compared to any other branch of medicine. They also feel that “interventions are not appropriate to the local conditions where they are implemented. The program manufactures

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)

LED phototherapy

LED bilibed

Infant resuscitation station and infant warmer

Hand sanitizer

Pulse oximeter

Light-meter

Baby bonnet

EMW says that these technologies are effective because they are:

• Locally manufactured by MTTS (Medical Techology Transfer Service) with instructions, controls, and manuals in local language
• Replacement parts easily obtained
• Accessible technical support and maintenance
• Tested in conditions of actual use and appropriately adapted
• Durable and low maintenance
• Low-cost
• Not reliant on expensive consumables
• Warrantied
• Scalable for each country, hospital, clinic conditions.

 Born Too Soon published by World Health Organization in 2012 says that the equipment is delivered in the context of a multi-year program of training, monitoring, clinical supervision and technical support. That EMW staff typically monitor every hospital in the network 3 to 5 times per week, and visit as often as twice a month for extended technical and clinical training and supervision. The report also claims that EMW’s neonatal equipment has a below 5% failure rate compared to more than 80% for donated equipment from Western countries.

What’s interesting about Breath of Life?

I think they have identified a common problem –  inappropriate technology in the wrong geography . I like their collaborative approach, bringing in business (GE Healthcare) and research partners (MTTS) with themselves as NFP (not for profit) apparently coordinating. They have crucially provided technology in a training, supervision and mentoring package. In my own experience to increase technology uptake anywhere in the world, you need this, else innovation is ignored.

But as usual, I have more questions than answers...

• I wonder where exactly the parts are manufactured?
• I wonder where replacement parts and technical supervision comes from?
• How is warranty and testing carried out?
• The failure rate statement suggests very local manufacture - if so that means BOL is supporting economic development in Vietnam. If that is the case, how are materials and labour sourced for manufacture and does that sourcing include social inclusion elements (e.g. local apprenticeships in engineering, say, for Vietnamese)?

Does EMW sell these technologies to hospitals? Or gift?

Is GE Healthcare supplying technology and expertise at market rates?

How does EMW fund the supervision and monitoring that WHO report says they are undertaking?