icddr,b hosted a seminar today to highlight the potential of Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bCPAP), a locally manufactured, low-cost respiratory support device, in treating severe childhood pneumonia. Demonstrated to be more effective WHO standard oxygen therapy, bCPAP has shown significant promise in reducing pneumonia-related mortality among children in resource-limited settings.

The seminar, titled “Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): A Locally Made, Low-Cost, and Life-Saving Innovation for the Treatment of Childhood Severe Pneumonia – Global Scale-Up Roadmap”, featured Prof. Dr Sayeba Akhter, Chairman, Bangladesh Medical Research Council, as Chief Guest. Prof. Dr Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, President, Bangladesh Paediatric Association; and Prof. Dr Md. Mazharul Shaheen, Principal, Sir Salimullah Medical College attended the seminar as special guests.

On his keynote presentation Prof. Dr Md. Abid Hossain Mollah, Professor of Pediatrics, BIRDEM General Hospital (Child & Mother Wing) said, “Clinical trials at icddr,b demonstrated that bCPAP reduces mortality rates by 75% compared to the WHO-recommended low-flow oxygen therapy. Children treated with bCPAP experienced significantly lower rates of treatment failure compared to high-flow and low-flow oxygen therapies. Despite its simple design and cost-effective production, the device has proven to be more efficient than many sophisticated respiratory support systems.”

In her remarks, Prof. Dr Sayeba Akhter stated, “I have always heard of Bubble CPAP but, I had no idea it works so well and I appreciate our pediatricians to promote such innovation that has been made locally. If we have a problem, we must try to fix the problem ourselves as well. I also, appreciate icddr,b for hosting such innovations and scientists who are working relentlessly for the betterment of people’s health.”

Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Diretor, icddr,b stated,  “The success of Bubble CPAP is a testament to the impact of locally developed innovations. Three countries in Africa have already started implementing this technology in their hospitals, and the next step would be ensuring its widespread adoption to save more lives across Bangladesh due to severe pneumonia.”

Dr Mohammod Jobayer Chisti, Senior Scientist at icddr,b, said, “Our series of studies including clinical trials in Bangladesh and Ethiopia have proven that Bubble CPAP is more effective than many conventional methods of oxygen therapy. Already, 37 hospitals in Africa – 24 in Ethiopia, 12 in Nigeria and one in Malawi, have started to scale up our lifesaving innovation through implementation research. Now, it is time to scale up the use of this life-saving device across Bangladesh and other countries in Asia.”

The seminar also highlighted the successful implementation of bCPAP in Ethiopia. Following feasibility and effectiveness trials conducted in 12 district-level hospitals, the device reduced treatment failure and mortality by 74% and 86%, respectively, compared to standard low-flow oxygen therapy.

With its success in Ethiopia and ongoing efforts in Bangladesh, bCPAP is poised to play a critical role in reducing pneumonia-related mortality globally. Expanding its use to Nepal and other countries aligns with icddr,b’s vision of contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 3.