The African Foundation for Premature Babies and Neonatal Care (AFPNC) has donated items worth ¢2000 to mothers of premature and sick babies of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

This donation was done in collaboration with Shoprite Ghana as part of activities to commemorate this year’s Mother’s Day celebration on Sunday. 

In all, a total of 30 mothers received up to two weeks of grocery supply ranging from diapers, baby wipes, washing powder and provisions.

Presenting the items, the Founder/Executive Director, Selina Bentoom, said the AFPNC embarked on the project to show their support for mothers of preterm babies.

She also indicated the donation is part of the effort to bring the plight of preterm babies and their mothers to the limelight.  

According to a mother of a preterm-born child and understands the challenges other preterm mothers’ experience. 

She called on all stakeholders and well-meaning Ghanaians to do more to reduce maternal deaths in Ghana. 

The Head of Nurses, Justina Yamoah who received the items on behalf of the hospital management, thanked AFPNC for their continuous support. 

She appealed to the organization to assist the Unit put up a hostel facility which will complement their existing facility. 

She indicated that due to the unavailability of rooms and beds, some nursing mothers who are still treating their surgical wounds sleep on the floor. 

This, she says leaves them with pain and other complications.   

Mothers who received the items were overwhelmed with joy as they expressed their gratitude to AFPNC and Shoprite Ghana for the kind gesture. 

According to one of the mother’s “Caring for our babies here at the NICU is expensive and emotionally disturbing but these unexpected gift packs go a long way to reduce the week’s expenses”. 

Another mother said it was lonely and sad that they had to spend the Mother’s Day with their premature and sick newborns but their spirit was lifted after the courtesy visit by AFPNC and the surprise gift packs they received. 

She said ‘‘we feel loved and remembered’’.

African Foundation for Premature Babies & Neonatal Care (AFPNC) is the first pan-African organization and network to represent the interest of preterm and newborn infants and their families in Africa. 

The Foundation brings together parents, healthcare experts from different disciplines and scientists with the common goal of improving the long-term health of preterm and newborn children. 

In 2018, AFPNC did a first phase refurbishment at the Effia-Nkwanta NICU and also secured two incubators from Kokrokoo Charities for the facility. 

Prior to the donation, the facility was operating with one fully functional incubator which catered for over 1000 babies per year. 

The AFPNC also donated brand new mackintosh student size mattresses to the unit. 

AFPNC has plans to provide a standard NICU facility that will also provide space for a Mothers’ Hostel, a Family Centered Care Unit and a spacious NICU.