Physical Health Uganda Project #33098

Support our newborn care training team

by Born on the Edge

Project Report | Oct 20, 2020
Twins and the incredible neonatal team in Mbale

By Adam Hewitt Smith | Trustee, Born on the Edge

Ochede and Robinah helping each other care

It is an absolute privilege to be able to share the story of Mr. Ochede and his wife Mrs Robinah. During their stay with us, their team work, dedication, care and love inspired our whole team.

“We are a young couple and this was our second pregnancy, and we had no idea we were expecting twins. My wife was only seven months pregnant when she felt her labour pains start and was rushed to the health centre. We were so surprised when she delivered two very small babies weighing just 1300g and 1150g.

We were immediately referred to the Neonatal Unit in Mbale for proper care and management of our tiny babies. We were so very afraid whether our preterm twins would really survive and grow up like other big babies who are born at the right time.

The situation was really tight due to the Covid- 19 regulations, and we struggled to find enough money to support ourselves during our stay in the neonatal unit. However, my wife and I were able to give good care to our twins by giving them kangaroo care to keep them warm. We also ensured we gave the timely tube feeding with breastmilk like the staff requested. Together with the care and help from the neonatal nurses and doctors, our twins grew and thrived. All these new practices were challenging at the beginning but we kept trying and practicing and we can now perform them perfectly!

We appreciate the good work of the entire Neonatal Team, and are thankful for the care and the support they gave us during our stay. We were incredibly thankful for the food that was prepared from the neonatal unit for us each day, as this enabled us to patiently give maximum care to our babies until the time we were discharged. Thank you!”

“Little by little, a little becomes A LOT” - Tanzanian Proverb

We are about to start our newborn care training courses in our surrounding district hospitals again. With appropriate precautions we can remain safe from COVID-19 while teaching our friends and colleagues how to recognise sick newborns, how to provide initial treatment to stabilise them and then when to refer them to our regional neonatal unit in Mbale. We need your support to allow that to happen. Our neonatal clinical trainers depend on donations from generous people lik eyou and your friends and families. Please consider support them once more.

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