Kimberly-Clark Corporation has pledged to invest US$1 million over the next three years to support UNICEF initiatives to improve neo-natal health and reduce infant mortality in Viet Nam.

The partnerships were signed by the corporation with UNICEF in Ha Noi last week.

It is committed to provide targeted support to seven provinces of Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Son La, Lai Chau, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Nong. This will include interventions to help strengthen neo-natal health systems through regular training for medical workers on Early Essential Newborn Care and Kangaroo Mother Care and by establishing processes that improve access to essential healthcare services for pregnant mothers and their babies.

It is estimated that these interventions will directly benefit 265,000 newborn lives over the next three years and will indirectly help more than one million newborns annually, said organisers.

Rana Flowers, Representatives of UNICEF Viet Nam, said: “Partnerships with business community energise the important work of maternal and child health and expedite progress. That’s why we’re so pleased to launch with Kimberly Clark, and its Huggies brand, a partnership with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF that will further improve the health and well-being of Vietnamese mothers and their children, especially the most disadvantaged.”

The corporation's managing director Ashwini Nagpal said: “Kimberly-Clark hopes that one day no baby will remain unhugged for lack of care and facilities. With this new partnership with UNICEF in which we will invest $1 million over three years, is focused on the northern and central highlands provinces of Viet Nam, newborns in the country now have a better chance of survival than ever before and we hope that through this partnership, we can assist the Government in achieving its goals in these remote difficult to access as well.”

Over the past 25 years, Viet Nam has achieved significant progress in improving survival rates for children under five years old, reducing from 52 to 21 deaths per 1,000 live births. Despite this progress, infant mortality rates in the north and Central Highlands remain high and in some provinces such as Lai Chau and Kon Tum, the rates are three times higher than the national average. — VNS