(VOVworld) – 5 collectives and 10 individuals have been given the 2013 Vietnamese Women’s Award for their outstanding merits in social activities. Head of the Newborns Emergency Department of the National Hospital of Pediatrics, Doctor Khu Thi Khanh Dung was among the awardees. Dung was honored for her innovative research in resuscitating newborns.

In her 30-year career, Doctor Dung has carried out many research projects on newborn care. Dung’s projects stem from her experience as a clinical doctor. One of her most prominent projects was researching a specialized respirator to treat neonatal respiratory distress in collaboration with her colleagues and a US engineer. Variations of the respirator have been produced and used in most of the hospitals in Vietnam. Doctor Dung says: “The respirator has helped reduce the neonatal mortality rate considerably. It was very difficult for doctors to decide which child patient should use the respirator due to a lack of equipment but it’s no longer a problem now.”

Another of Doctor Dung’s projects was researching the clinical syndromes and factors causing neonatal jaundice. The research was of great importance because it was not easy to differentiate physiological and pathological jaundice. Early detection and accurate diagnosis lead to effective treatment. Doctor Dung and her colleagues have conducted a number of international cooperative projects with San Francisco University of the US on approaches to newborn care in Vietnam and other Asian countries. Dung’s research team has been working with an Australian professor on an assessment scale for underweight newborns. Dung said that this project will help a lot in remote and especially disadvantaged areas. “We are working on a tool to assess underweight in newborns. We are experimenting in Hoa Binh province. Initial results have been positive.”

Doctor Dung and her colleagues have published 61 research projects. In September they successfully defended a project on the use of stem cells to treat a number of childhood diseases. Dung said: “Transplanting stem cells is a good way to treat a number of diseases such as bone marrow failure and congenital dermatitis. We have transplanted stem cells in 12 cases, 10 of which have shown good progress. We are very happy that our project has brought hope to children with congenital diseases.”

Dung said she shares the honor of receiving the 2013 Vietnamese Women’s Award with her colleagues because of their support and contributions: “It’s my honor to receive the 2013 Vietnamese Women’s Award. Without my colleagues and their support I could not have done the work. I’m proud to be a leader among 125 female doctors. Together we will obtain more successes.”

Vu Thi Mai Huong, one of Dung’s colleagues, said: “Dung is very dedicated to the patients and her work. She always tries to find new ways to save sick newborns. She is our teacher and sister, who is always ready to offer help to anyone.”