NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

NEW DELHI: A simple low-cost device that helps newborn babies to breathe and has the potential to transform the life chances for thousands of African babies has been awarded the highest fund in the first GSK and Save the Children $1million Healthcare Innovation Award.

The life-saving kit, called a ’bubble’ Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or ’bCPAP’, is used to help babies in respiratory distress, which is often caused by acute respiratory infections like pneumonia. CPAP devices use air pressure to keep patients airways open, and as there are few wall-mounted air supplies in Malawi hospitals, the newly innovated bCPAP air pump works on its own. Plus it is made of durable materials that are inexpensive and easy to repair. A similar version is already commonly used in developed countries where they cost at least $6,000 each. This innovative low-cost ’bubble’ CPAP adaptation can be produced for approximately $400.