Please note that this is an on-going project.
Project Description
This project tackles persistently high neonatal mortality in rural Nepal by addressing a key gap: loss of newborn resuscitation skills among frontline birth attendants. Building on the Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) program, Griffith University led a collaborative initiative to adapt a mobile simulation-based training app, originally developed in Uganda, to the Nepali language, culture, and clinical context. The tool enables birth attendants to refresh life-saving resuscitation skills through short, on-demand practice sessions, even in remote and under-resourced environments where refresher training is rare. Anchored in partnerships with Nepali NGOs, clinicians, and government, and endorsed by the Ministry of Health in Lumbini Province, the project has been piloted successfully in underserved regions. Its aim is to provide a scalable, sustainable solution to reduce preventable newborn deaths by strengthening healthcare capacity at the first moments of life.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
The project is led by Associate Professor Victoria Kain (School of Nursing and Midwifery) with co-investigators Dr Animesh Dhungana, Dr Data Santorino, Professor Kiran Bajracharya, Ranjan Dhungana, Professor Jeanine Young, Assistant Professor Bidhya Basnet, Durga Laxmi Shrestha, Dr Shyam S Budhathoki, and Dr LB Basnet. It benefits frontline health workers in rural Nepal – nurses, midwives, and auxiliary staff – to have access to regular, culturally adapted refresher training. Ultimately, the primary beneficiaries are newborns and their families in underserved communities.
Outcomes to Date
Pilot implementation in Lumbini Province has demonstrated statistically significant improvements in health professional knowledge retention and clinical performance. Birth attendants reported increased confidence and engagement, and local health authorities endorsed the app for integration into practice. The project has strengthened partnerships with Nepali NGOs, hospitals, and government, building local capacity for sustainability. Internationally, it has been recognised with the 2025 Triple E Award for SDG Impact (Asia-Pacific), highlighting its contribution to global health equity and sustainable development.
Project Significance
Birth asphyxia is a leading cause of neonatal death in low-resource settings, yet timely resuscitation can prevent most deaths. While the HBB program improves immediate skills, retention declines rapidly without reinforcement. This initiative ensures that training is not a one-off event but a sustained learning process, equipping healthcare professionals in low to middle income countries to act with confidence in critical moments. By aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), the project directly contributes to reducing child mortality and strengthening health systems. Its community-led design demonstrates Griffith’s commitment to the Third Mission of higher education: applying knowledge in partnership with non-profits and local providers for both immediate health gains and long-term system improvements.