Vayu Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bCPAP): Introduction under the SWAP Project in Bangladesh (2022 – 2025)

Bangladesh, with an annual preterm birth rate of 16.2%, has one of the highest preterm birthrates in the world. Respiratory conditions, a common complication of
preterm birth, account for many preterm newborn deaths. The bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) device is a medical device to assist breathing which can be life-saving for small and sick newborns. The Vayu-bCPAP device allows for precise delivery of oxygen concentration, flow, and pressure that can save the life of the newborn. The anonymously-funded Saving Women and Premature Babies (SWAP) program, conducted from 2022 – 2025, focused on saving lives of newborns in five health facilities of different levels in Bangladesh. This brief describes the introduction of the Vayu bCPAP device for improved neonatal care during the SWAP project.