Physical Health Uganda Project #45267

Centre of excellence for newborn care in Uganda

by Born on the Edge

Project Report | Feb 6, 2024
Unfaltering determination

By Kathy Burgoine | Neonatal Lead, Trustee

Just nine years ago we struggled to care with newborn babies born with abnormalities that needed surgery, especially gastroschisis (a hole in the abdominal wall where all the intestines, stomach and even liver and bladder are left outside). In fact none of our little ones with gastroschisis survived. Now, thanks to the unfaltering determination and dedication of our local neonatal experts, the surgical team and the anaesthesia team, the majority of these little friends not only survive, but go home thriving.

Check out Alaina’s heartfelt journey from December: “When I delivered my third baby, I gave birth to a little boy with gastroschisis. All of his intestines were lying outside of his body. I was shocked and I cried so much. I asked myself, “How would he ever live and be fine?” The doctors placed a cover over his gut (a silo) and slowly his intestines entered back inside his little body, his gut started working and I began to give him my breastmilk in his feeding tube. After the operation to close the hole, my baby continued to gain strength. Now he is breastfeeding and doing so well. Not only is he alive, but today we are going home in time for Christmas. I am very grateful for the treatment and care given to my baby. Thank you.” - Alaina, December 2023

Everyday, our local expert neonatal clinicians not only care for these incredibly sick babies but perhaps more importantly they educate and teach more and more healthcare workers to care for small and sick babies like Alaina’s. Born on the Edge supports critical sustainable equipment and supplies that cannot be procured in Uganda. Without your support we are unable to continue doing this. Please give generously and support the team to save more lives.

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Oct 8, 2023
Aiming for excellence in neonatal nutrition

By Adam Hewitt Smith | Trustee, Born on the Edge

A centre of excellence is not just about the physical infrastructure and buildings. Whilst this fundraising project has traditionally asked for support for these crucial things, we want to show you all our other activities that together create the centre of excellence we strive to achieve.

Some babies who are admitted in our specialist neonatal unit in eastern Uganda either have no mother or their mother is unable to provide the breastmilk they need. There are no real alternatives for most of these tiny babies who are often also born too soon. Just like donated blood, donated human breastmilk is the norm in most high resource settings and we are excited to say that we are not far behind in Mbale.

Here is our Breastfeeding Specialist, Goret, with six full jars of liquid gold (donor human beastmilk) from six newly screened mamas, ready for pasteurisation and freezing in our milk bank One of our concerns about opening the Milk Bank was not having enough donors. Two months after opening our Milk Bank and we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our donor mamas. Goret counsels all our mamas in the neonatal unit on the importance and techniques of #breastfeeding every single morning and everyday new mamas come forward to help others. These donor mamas show incredible effort, commitment, dedication and generosity to provide milk, not only to their own baby but also to a baby in need. Life in the neonatal unit is challenging and these mamas have shown that hope, goodness and life can still prevail in these difficult times. Our heartfelt appreciation, thanks and gratitude to all the mamas who have donated breast milk.

We need your donations to enable us to keep paying Goret's salary. Every little counts. $15 will pay for one days salary, $100 will pay for a week. Please help continue to support this essential service.

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Jun 6, 2023
World Day of Human Milk Donation

By Adam Hewitt-Smith | Trustee, Born on the Edge

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