Physical Health Uganda Project #45267

Centre of excellence for newborn care in Uganda

by Born on the Edge

Summary

Since 2014, we have treated over 20,000 babies and saved over 7000 lives. This dramatic success can be attributed to a sustainable training model and provision of good quality basic newborn care in partnership. Our Centre of Excellence for Newborn Care is a national training centre recognised by the Ministry of Health. Born on the Edge provides sustainable support to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital by flexibly filling critical gaps that directly contribute to saving newborn lives.

$120,000
total goal

$72,119
remaining

205
donors

7
monthly donors

6
fundraisers

5
years

Challenge

As we wait for our planned new neonatal unit from the Ministry of Health, we have established ourselves as one of four national training centres for newborn care, saving lives with excellent care, despite limited resources. Born on the Edge continues to support the government hospital filling critical gaps that would otherwise result in preventable newborn deaths. Examples include essential equipment maintenance, a donor breastmilk bank and one meal a day for our most vulnerable mothers.

Solution

This project will provide critical support to the neonatal unit at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital that the hospitals annual budget cannot cover. Without these resources, the smallest and sickest of our newborn babies would die. As we advocate for more resources from the government, Born on the Edge provides funding to fill these gaps. Examples include: repair of our power backup systems to provide continuous uninterrupted power and running a breastmilk bank, providing donor milk for preterms.

Long-Term Impact

Many services we support are the first in government hospitals in Uganda - bedside ultrasound scans for all babies who need it, our donor breastmilk bank, continuous monitoring of babies on breathing support because they are small. Each of the tiny lives we save will contribute to their family's health and well being and to the economy of Uganda as it grows. As a training centre providing these services we empower other healthcare workers to implement and scale best practice across the country.