Reports
At the completion of every mission, a report is written and made available on this website.
With these reports, we want to document our activities and describe progress that has been made, but also admit failures or difficulties that have been encountered. The reports also serve as a basis to plan the next steps of our program.
2025-2
Moving forward
The 24th Mission of NEO FOR NAMIBIA – Helping Babies Survive lasted from September 2 to 30, 2025. The team focused on strengthening the collaboration between obstetrics and neonatology and discussed the logistics of an upcoming large donation of equipment.
2025-1
Equipment maintenance
The 23rd Mission of NEO FOR NAMIBIA – Helping Babies Survive lasted from March 29 to April 23, 2025. The team focused on important maintenance work of equipment donated by the NGO over the past years.
2024-2
Visiting sponsors witness success
The 22nd Mission of NEO FOR NAMIBIA – Helping Babies Survive lasted from October 16 to November 16, 2024. Accompanying sponsors were able to witness the NGO’s impact on the ground.
2024-1
Vayu - a new CPAP device
The 21st mission of NEO FOR NAMIBIA – Helping Babies Survive lasted from March 15 to April 5, 2024. Health care professionals were trained in the use of POCT machines, the Vayu bubbleCPAP device and video laryngoscopy.
2023-4
Sustainability and scalability
The 20th mission of NEO FOR NAMIBIA – Helping Babies Survive lasted from November 6 to December 5, 2024. Apart from the usual work, the mission team helped organize and participated in the 1st National Neonatology Conference.
2023-3
Refresher training for nurses
The 19th mission of NEO FOR NAMIBIA – Helping Babies Survive lasted from June 6 to 25, 2024. The team (Dr. Salome Waldvogel, Isaak Bois) visited Rundu and Katima and focused on training of nurses.
2023-2
Improving perinatal care
For the first time, an obstetrician and gynecologist (Dr. Christoph M. Honegger) took part in a mission of NEO FOR NAMIBIA - Helping Babies Survive.
2023-1
Swakopmund and Walvis Bay
Two hospitals in the Erongo region of Namibia were assessed to determine how NEO FOR NAMIBIA could assist in the develpment of a neonatal referral center.
2022-3
Importance of leadership
With increasing caseloads and employment of additional physicians from diverse backgrounds, leadership becomes increasingly important.
2022-2
Antibiotic stewardship
The utility of a point of care testing (POCT) device for C-reactive protein measurements (introduced at Rundu State Hospital in April 2022) was evaluated.
2022-1
Leaving the Corona pandemic behind
Both Rundu State Hospital and Katima Hospital were visited. Improving equipment maintenance and stock management have become increasingly important.
2021-3
Improving nursing care
Under the guidance of Katharina Mäder, a neonatology nurse, health care professionals were trained in various, neonatology-specific nursing skills.
2021-2
New mission team members
New team members (two neonatology fellows and a neonatology nurse) were introduced to neonatal care in a resource-limited setting.
2021-1
Visiting hospitals in the Hardap region
After visits of Rundu State Hospital and Katima Hospital two additional hospitals in Rehoboth and Mariental were assessed.
2020-1
Namibian Minimal Neonatal Date Set
The main mission goals were to evaluate sustainability of our efforts at Rundu State Hospital and to improve data collection.
2019-3
First visit of Katima Hospital
Katima Hospital in Namibia's Zambezi region was visited for the first time, and a new bubble CPAP device for small babies was introduced in Rundu.
2019-2
Invasive mechanical ventilation
Rundu State Hospital is taking the next step: at the request of Dr. Isha Kamara, a neonatal ventilator (EVE TR neo) is introduced.
2019-1
Routine use of CPAP
CPAP support for babies with respiratory distress is now well estabilshed! We were extremely pleased to see the progress made.
2018-2
Donations of additional equipment
Thanks to generous donations, urgently needed equipment was brought to the north of Namibia. Onandjokwe Hospital was visited for the first time.
2018-1
Improving CPAP strategies
Both nurses and doctors become increasingly skilled at using the new equipment. Statistical data demonstrates its impact!
2017-2
Intensified training
A total of 15 lectures and hands-on workshops were oganized. We also worked hand in hand with local physicians and nurses: progress is visible!
2017-1
Introducing the Pumani CPAP device
We were thrilled to introduce non-invasive respiratory support at Rundu State Hospital. It was encouraging to see the enthusiasm of the local staff.
2016
Defining high-impact interventions
We returned to define promising interventions, intensify neonatal resuscitation training, provide formal lectures on basic neonatal care and conduct teaching rounds.
2015
First visit to Namibia
Following three visits of health care facilities in the Ivory Cost between 2012 and 2015, we travelled to the Rundu State Hospital in the north of Namibia.