Child Health Division of National Health Mission, Rajasthan is committed to achieve neonatal mortality of 16 per 1000 Live births by the end of year 2025 as prescribed in the National Health Policy 2017. Norway India Partnership (NIPI) has been providing technical and programmatic support to the state for achieving this defined target.

Facilities for ensuring respiratory support to the newborns admitted in Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) play a key role in intact survival of the newborns. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is an effective intervention for saving lives of newborns requiring respiratory support and the SNCUs in Rajasthan have been equipped with CPAP machines.

In order to build capacity of health care professionals working in these units, a 2-day hands-on training for CPAP therapy of newborns was organized on 18-19 November 2020 at State Newborn Care Resource Centre in J. K. Lone Hospital, Jaipur. NIPI facilitated organization of the training. Training aimed at not only teaching the theoretical aspects of CPAP in Newborn children but also providing participants with hands-on experience in operating the CPAP equipment.

Pediatric/newborn experts Dr. Ashok Gupta, Dr. Ramesh Chaudhary, Dr. Vivek Athwani and Dr. Romesh Gautam facilitated the sessions. On first day of the training, participants learned about the conditions requiring use of CPAP therapy and the equipment. Second day of the training was dedicated for hands-on practice by the participants. All the participants were taught in detail about operating the machine and right method of applying CPAP. Second day also witnessed the presence of Dr. L. S. Ola, Director RCH who interacted with participants and distributed certificates to them.

This training led to capacity building of 32 participants (Doctors and Nurses) working in Special Newborn Care Units of the 16 districts of the state.