University of Guam nursing faculty and two nurses from the Guam’s medical community were trained on the techniques of Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) on Nov. 13 at the UOG School of Health Learning Resource Center.

The HBB course teaches the initial steps of neonatal resuscitation to save lives and help babies who struggle to breathe at birth.

HBB techniques have shown to reduce neonatal mortality by up to 47 percent and fresh stillbirths by 24 percent.

Visiting nurse practitioner from the Seventh Day Adventist Guam Clinic Ginnie Kim, RN of Perinatal Rescue Network (PRN) conducted the seven-hour, hands-on training session with the help of Betty Jo Vercio Wresch, a registered nurse and PRN Wellness Case Manager.

UOG Faculty Dr. Kathryn Wood, Dr. Celine Arat-Cabading, Dr. Ana Joy P. Mendez and the LRC/ Simulation Coordinator Ms. Vicky Alave were trained alongside Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services registered nurse James V. Finch and Dr. Florencia Maldia of Father Duenas Memorial School.

HBB falls under Helping Babies Survive, an initiative of the American Academy of Pediatrics developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization. This initiative is supported by the US Agency for International Development, Save the Children, Latter-Day Saint Charities, Laerdal Global Health, Johnson & Johnson, and many other global health partners.