The GCB program funded by Tropical Health and Education Trust to the Ubora Foundation Africa-Eye Health Africa partnership has helped us identify various bottlenecks to effective service delivery to premature babies at the facility. Through some of the routine visits, we identified significant hindrances to optimum oxygen delivery at the facility. The facility still lacks conventional Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) bubble circuits to deliver optimum oxygen to the preterm babies delivered at the facility. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) oxygen delivery has become a beacon of hope, offering a non-invasive lifeline that supports their breathing and enhances their chances of survival. Preterm infants, born before 37 weeks of gestation, frequently face respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) due to underdeveloped lungs. This condition makes it challenging to keep their airways open and effectively exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. CPAP, a gentle and continuous airflow, helps maintain a constant pressure level in the baby's airways, preventing collapse and ensuring that their lungs remain inflated.

The principle behind CPAP is straightforward yet interesting. By delivering a steady stream of air through a mask or nasal prongs, CPAP keeps the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs, open during both inhalation and exhalation. This continuous pressure improves oxygenation, reduces the work of breathing, and minimizes the risk of lung injury, which can be caused by more invasive methods of ventilation. Now, for preterm infants, the benefits of CPAP are numerous beyond just oxygen provision. The non-invasive nature of CPAP spares these delicate patients from the potential complications associated with intubation and mechanical ventilation, such as ventilator-associated lung injury or infections. CPAPs allow for a more natural breathing pattern, supporting the baby's respiratory efforts and promoting lung development. One of the remarkable aspects of CPAP is its adaptability. Additionally, NICU teams can adjust the pressure settings and oxygen concentration to meet the specific needs of each infant. This customization is crucial, as preterm babies vary significantly in their respiratory requirements. Moreover, CPAP can be initiated immediately after birth, providing critical support during the baby's first hours and days.

However, the success of CPAP depends not only on the technology itself but also on the expertise and dedication of the healthcare providers. Nurses, respiratory therapists, and neonatologists work tirelessly to monitor and adjust CPAP settings, ensuring that each infant receives the optimal level of support. Their vigilance and care play a pivotal role in maximizing the benefits of CPAP and safeguarding the well-being of preterm babies. In resource-limited settings, the availability of CPAP can be a game-changer. Low-cost and innovative CPAP devices have been developed to provide life-saving respiratory support in areas where advanced medical equipment is scarce. These initiatives are crucial in bridging the gap in neonatal care and reducing neonatal mortality rates worldwide. elementum.

While these are absent, the facility has innovated an improvement of utilizing used mineral water bottles and used saline bottles as shown in Figure 1. These have played a key role in delivering the oxygen requirements to these babies. However, these are not necessarily the optimum equipment to deliver oxygen, especially because they are not calibrated and the amount of oxygen pressure is not standardized. While it offers a solution to the absence, it may also pose significant risks to the lungs of these preterm babies. Thus, this is a call to action for more collaboration and partnerships to support these babies and improve their life quality. To collaborate with us, you can reach out to us at info@uborafoundationafrica.org