Latest news with #KangarooMotherCare
Zawya
3 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
South Sudan: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Ministry of Health launch newly constructed neonatal ward at Aweil State Hospital to improve care for sick newborns and premature babies
Seeking to improve access to medical care for sick, low birth weight, and premature babies in South Sudan's Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and South Sudan's Ministry of Health on 4 June 2025 opened a newly-built 40-bed neonatal inpatient ward at Aweil State Hospital. The new structure replaces the former 33-bed neonatal ward, which was frequently overcrowded with over 45 babies admitted at once and lacked enough room for critical care like resuscitation. "We had a neonatal ward, but it was always full or over its capacity," says Denis Mbae, MSF project coordinator for Aweil. "This new building, which is also closer to the maternity ward, will limit the distance that mothers have to walk to breastfeed their babies, while holding better equipment and amenities. "The new ward has increased capacity and improved design, with necessary space for incubators and life-support equipment to better support vulnerable infants whose vital organs may not be fully developed. Mothers will also have dedicated space for Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), promoting skin-to-skin contact vital for low-birth-weight infants, which has proven to help improve health outcomes of babies in this condition. This specialized unit, the only one of its kind in the state, offers spacious environments designed for infection prevention, improved monitoring, and better working conditions for staff. The building will also provide a space for neonates under one roof, allowing for better follow-up and monitoring. MSF has supported Aweil State Hospital since 2008, providing paediatric and maternity services in a region where many people face challenges accessing timely care due to limited peripheral health services and difficulty in finding proper transportation. In 2024, MSF assisted in delivery of 7,664 babies at Aweil State Hospital. The upgrade reinforces MSF's commitment to enhancing access to health care for better outcomes for vulnerable families in South Sudan. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Join the journey to save tiny lives: support Tygerberg Hospital's pediatric unit
CEO of the Tygerberg Hospital Children's Trust Louise Theron and a friend Leone Malan are aiming to raise R1.2million for pediatric equipment. Two Cape Town friends will embark on a 270km journey from Porto in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain to raise R1.2million for life-saving pediatric medical equipment at Tygerberg Hospital. Louise Theron, CEO of Tygerberg Hospital Children's Trust and entrepreneur Leone Malan will start their two week journey on May 20 in aid of Blisters for Babies, an initiative which is aimed at addressing the dire need for highly-specialised equipment used in the neonatal and pediatric wards. Tygerberg Hospital treats the most babies weighing less than 1500 grams across South Africa. As the largest pediatric unit in the Western Cape, with 210 pediatric beds and 90 neonatal beds, it treats about half of the 2.4 million children living in the province who require specialist medical care. Theron said while the need was unlimited, the aim of this particular walk was to raise funds for crucial equipment used in the pediatric unit such as sonar scanners, pediatric bronchoscopes, nebulisers and incubators. In addition, washing machines, tumble dryers and even toiletries for the mothers in the Kangaroo Mother Care programme were needed. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The stuffed tiger will go along for the journey and serve as a reminder of the pediatric patients back home at Tygerberg Hospital. The duo is no stranger to travelling together as they have gone on several outreaches and missionary work together, recently helping Syrian refugee children during a trip to Greece. The women have been friends for about 20 years and started training together for this self-funded walk late last year. One morning in January, when doctoring several blisters on her feet, Theron had an epiphany of how she had endured these blisters for babies and the name was created. Along their pilgrimage from cathedral to cathedral the duo will be offering prayers for the little children back home who are in desperate need. 'We will say a prayer for the children, doctors, nurses and all support staff at the hospital. If anyone has a request, we will light a candle, if not, we will do it generally for the Tygerberg Children's Hospital and all the support staff,' Theron said. CEO of the Tygerberg Hospital Children's Trust Louise Theron. Image: Ian Landsberg/ Independent Newspapers Apart from one extra set of clothes, the women will be carrying tiny tiger teddy bears on their backpacks - a symbol of all the children at the hospital. 'So that we can remember why we are doing this walk. When we have to wake up and it's raining, or motivate ourselves, we will just say 'it's for the children and look at the little tiger and go',' Theron said. Theron said the tiny patients - sick babies - are what drives her to get up in the dark, icy mornings to train but will also be her driving force on their journey. 'It is our investment in the children,' Theron said. Their aim is to save tiny lives, one step at a time. Image: Ian Landsberg/ Independent Newspapers For Malan, it is a spiritual encounter. To walk like Jesus and his disciples did. 'Once you start walking in their footsteps you start looking at it in a different way. If I can add another cause to it, it is worth so much more than a walk,' Malan said. To pledge your support and donate visit: Weekend Argus
