Saving newborns lives: Luxembourg’s long-term maternal health investment and impact in Lao PDR

Across Lao PDR, a transformation in the care of newborn infants has taken place and is expanding, led by one of the country's leading neonatologists, Dr Bouasengnignom Phrasithideth. 

Supported by WHO and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as part of the United Nations Joint Programme, now in its sixteenth year. Her work, centered on a method called Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) developed by WHO in 2018, is improving outcomes for premature and low-birth-weight babies in Lao PDR. KMC involves skin-to-skin contact between a parent and their baby. It helps regulate the baby’s temperature, promotes breastfeeding, and reduces the risk of infection. 

For over 15 years, the UN Joint Programme, supported by the Government of Luxembourg, has partnered with WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA to strengthen Lao PDR's healthcare system. This collaboration has focused on building local capacity and improving care for mothers and children.  

Mr Thomas Lammar, Luxembourg Charge d’Affairs to Laos PDR has great pride in his country’s investment into the Programme "Luxembourg is proud to support this UN Joint Programme, focusing on maternal and child health. We believe that every mother and child deserves access to quality healthcare, and our long-term commitment reflects our dedication to the well-being and prosperity of the Lao people. The progress highlighted by the work of Dr Bouasengnignom and her team is a testament to what we can achieve together when we invest in human capacity and sustainable health systems." 
 
Between 2000 and 2023, maternal mortality decreased by 82%, from 609 to 112 deaths per 100 000 live births. The percentage of births attended by a skilled professional rose from 42% in 2012 to 79.8% in 2023. Neonatal mortality has also fallen, from 26 deaths per 1000 live births in 2012 to 12 in 2023. These figures reflect direct improvements in people's lives. 

WHO Representative Dr Timothy Armstrong says: “Investing in RMNCAH is about building a foundation for a healthier future. The long-term support for capacity building, like the partnership with Luxembourg, has empowered local healthcare professionals with the skills and confidence to transform care. This isn't just an isolated success story; it's a powerful demonstration of the lasting, transformative value that sustained investment provides.” 

^{Dr Bouasengnignom Phrasithideth, Mahosot Hospital’s neonatologist. © WHO / Will Seal}

Dr Phrasithideth is a champion for newborn health in Lao PDR and understands firsthand the effect the investment has had. She is a neonatology specialist with 25 years of experience and leads the Newborn sub-committee of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) technical working group, providing guidance at both national and provincial levels.

Her commitment to her work is clear. "I love children," she says. "Since I started working in the NICU, the intensive care unit for newborns aged 0 to 15 days, I’ve seen that some babies never even have the chance to experience life: they have never seen a toy, never learned to walk, and sometimes they die without ever having that chance. Seeing this difference made me want to help newborns." 

Since 2014, with technical leadership from WHO and financial support from the UN Joint Programme, Dr Phrasithideth has been central to introducing and expanding Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) and KMC. She has led the training of 158 healthcare providers on KMC across the country. 

The KMC approach has represented a shift from traditional medical training based on theory to a more practical one. Dr Phrasithideth says “KMC has changed the way we learn, the way we understand, and the way we teach. I haven’t only learned about newborn care — I’ve also learned about how to teach others.” 

Ms Chanda Chanthavong of the Phonsavath-tai Village recently experienced the effect KMC can have on a newborn after recently giving birth to her child who weighed just under one kilogram, was kept in an incubator for two weeks and often refused to feed. “At first, I was worried about using KMC because my baby is so small, but after 2 or 3 days of KMC my baby started moving more and gaining more weight.”  

Dr Phrasithideth explains, "For premature and low-weight babies, our main goal is to keep them warm. Now, we know that the best source of warmth is from the parents’ chest." 

Part of KMC’s success is how trained medical staff educate new mothers on continued care for their child both in and out of hospital. Ms Chanthavong goes on to say, "The doctor advised me to keep a record [on feeding, bowel movements and urination]; I wrote everything down. The doctor will review it all, and next week will adjust the feeding accordingly.” 

^{Ms Chanda Chanthavong and her family. © WHO/Soudthida Thepsouvanh.}

Dr Viengsakhone Louangpradith, Deputy Director of Children Hospital says: “Through long-term collaboration with WHO, Luxembourg, and our UN partners, we have strengthened our capacity to care for mothers and newborns across the country. The success of initiatives like Kangaroo Mother Care shows how evidence-based, compassionate approaches can transform outcomes for even the smallest and most vulnerable lives.”

Thanks to the investment into KMC and EENC, Dr Phrasithideth along with her associates across the country continue to ensure countless newborns across Laos PDR are ensured a healthier start to life ultimately creating lasting change for generations to come.

^{© WHO / Will Seal}

^{© WHO / Will Seal}

^{© WHO / Will Seal}

^{Dr Bouasengnignom Phrasithideth, Mahosot Hospital’s neonatologist, providing information on Kangaroo Mother Care method to mother who recently gave birth. © WHO / Will Seal}