Jyoti Bikas Bank’s initiative to donate baby warmers to rural hospitals saves thousands of newborn lives

KATHMANDU, June 12: Hypothermia—a condition where body temperature drops below 35°C—is a leading cause of child mortality in rural Nepal, where community hospitals lack life-saving equipment. To combat this, Jyoti Bikas Bank has launched a CSR initiative to distribute baby warmers to rural hospitals, significantly reducing newborn deaths.

Understanding the severity of the issue, Jyoti Bikas Bank provided baby warmers to hospitals lacking this essential equipment, reads a statement issued by the bank. “Recognizing the gravity of the problem in rural areas, we decided to supply baby warmers to needy hospitals as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility initiative,” said Kushal Jung Adhikari, head of Branding, Corporate Communication, and CRM at Jyoti Bikas Bank.

According to the statement, hypothermia in newborns occurs when their body loses heat faster than it can produce it, dropping below the critical temperature of 35°C. This is exacerbated by the lack of baby warmers, which are typically only available in major urban hospitals.

Initially, the bank said it donated baby warmers to hospitals in Jorpati and Kirtipur. Now, their focus has expanded to remote districts like Dailekh, Kalikot, Jumla, and Mugu. Partnering with the National Innovation Center, led by Mahabir Pun, the bank has distributed 43 baby warmers and plans to distribute five more within the fiscal year.

Doctors note that temperature fluctuations can lead to pneumonia. In many cases, parents in rural areas resort to using firewood and coals to warm hypothermic infants, further endangering their health. “We have been able to save thousands of newborn lives with this equipment. We have a report that over 4,000 children have benefited so far from the baby warmers we've donated,” the statement quoted Adhikari as saying.

While imported baby warmers cost around Rs 150,000 per unit, those designed by the National Innovation Center cost about Rs 85,000. “We chose to procure locally made baby warmers to promote local skills and products and to support communities where help is most needed,” Adhikari explained.

The bank distributes baby warmers based on requests from hospitals in areas where it has branches, ensuring proper installation, maintenance, and monitoring. A team, including a biomedical engineer, installs the equipment and trains local staff to ensure effective use. “Our approach ensures that the equipment is utilized to save newborn lives,” Adhikari added.