Skip to content
  1. Home/
  2. Latest news/
  3. Health & wellness/
  4. Baby’s first breath: How one landmark program in China has saved 150,000 newborns
Helping Babies Breath Hi Res

Baby’s first breath: How one landmark program in China has saved 150,000 newborns

Sixty seconds. That’s how much time a healthcare professional has to ensure that a newborn takes a first breath in order for that baby to have a healthy start in life.

But far too often newborns aren’t able to take that first breath on their own.

It’s a condition known as birth asphyxia—and it’s one of the world’s leading causes of infant mortality. In fact, some 10 million newborns worldwide have difficulty breathing at birth each year. And in China, over 73,000 babies died from the complication in 2004 alone.

So to help change that alarming statistic, Johnson & Johnson formed a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership with the Chinese government and other professional associations to launch the “Freedom of Breath, Fountain of Life” training program.

The goal: help prevent birth asphyxia in Chinese hospitals by ensuring that every delivery had at least one person trained in neonatal resuscitation present.

Today, as the program marks its 10-year anniversary, the initiative has saved an estimated 150,000 newborns across the country.

And that’s just one heartwarming stat.

As you’ll see in this infographic, there are more inspiring facts, figures and stories behind the formation of this landmark partnership—and the many children to whom it’s given a healthy start.

Cina NRP Final Infographic

null

More from Johnson & Johnson

Inside Johnson & Johnson’s decades-long quest to develop effective treatments for IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease doesn’t have a cure—yet. But the recent FDA approval of a promising medication is the latest in a long line of treatments from Johnson & Johnson that are helping patients with IBD.

The future of immunology

Learn about the advances Johnson & Johnson is making to potentially help treat the millions of people living with conditions in which the immune system mistakenly damages healthy cells in the body.

5 things we now know about colorectal cancer

Surprising new research suggests that people younger than 50 are getting diagnosed with the disease at record rates. For National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, find out how to protect yourself—no matter your age.