Physical Health Uganda Project #33098

Support our newborn care training team

by Born on the Edge

Project Report | Feb 6, 2024
We are humbled and grateful

By Kathy Burgoine | Neonatal Lead, Trustee

Back in 2014, we struggled to care with newborn babies born weighing less than 1500g. In fact hardly any of our little ones survived.

Now, thanks to the unfaltering determination and dedication of our local neonatal team, the ongoing support of our generous donors and the magic of the lifesaving CPAP machines, discharging babies who were born as early as 27 weeks and as small as 700g is NO longer an exception to the rule. The majority of these little friends not only survive, but go home thriving. Read on for Anna’s epic but beautiful story of her twin girls, Apio and Adongo.

“I have really danced to the tune these past two months. It started at 3.45pm on the 15th October when I had a breech delivery of my two tiny baby girls. They weighed 720g and 925g. Immediately after I delivered them, one was put on oxygen and the other on CPAP (a machine to support her breathing). They transferred my babies immediately in a transport trolley to the neonatal unit. When we reached there, they were treated and both put on a bigger CPAP machine and then they tied them to our chests to give warmth.

Life in the neonatal unit was very strange with so many tiny babies like mine, so very hot and congested with other mamas and their babies. I felt so desperate for my angels as they struggle to breathe on the machines. As soon as I removed them from kangaroo they got cold quickly and they often forgot to breathe and changed so easily to a blue colour. One even needed a blood transfusion.

There’s an African proverb that says, “The water pot breaks at the doorstep.” Just as I began to relax Adongo started to vomit a green colour, her stomach swelled, she developed difficulty in breathing and again she began stopping to breathe. This time, even when I gently rubbed her it wasn’t enough, and every now and then she had to be bagged (helped to breathe) by the team to bring her back.

I was loosing hope, but slowly by the grace of God, she began to pick up and we even got off CPAP! She started to cup and spoon feed and finally we were able to come off of oxygen! We are now just over two months old and gaining weight seriously. They both have fat cheeks and weigh 1650g and 1540g!

We are humbled as a family and grateful to the entire staff. I can’t imagine the endless days and sleepless nights the team spend monitoring and treating. Or the countless times they needed to bag my babies to help them breathe again. I pray the Almighty blesses you all with your heart felt desires. BIG THANKS.” - Apio Anna Grace, 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 Anna’s.

We really need your help to support the ongoing running of the Neonatal Unit to help more mamas like Anna! Check out the links below for ways to donate if you are interested

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Oct 9, 2023
Newborn Care Training Across East Africa

By Adam Hewitt Smith | Trustee, Born on the Edge

Some of you will remember us talking about our newborn care training course that our training team has run across 20 hospitals and smaller health facilities in eastern uganda. We have trained over 750 health professionals during this time. But the learning never stops and the gaps in knowledge and skills remain one of the biggest barriers to the provision of safe and effective newborn care for all.

We have been active recently in two newer areas of our work, expanding our newborn care training expertise across the region. In Uganda the Ministry of Health recognises that gaps in knowledge and skills is leading to challenges reducing the current rates of newborn deaths. Working closely with our neonatal lead in Uganda, and using our exisiting newborn training course, they have created a four week in service training course for practicing nurses across the country. As we speak 81 of them are receiving training across selected centres of excellence. Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, led by our team of neonatal trainers is at the forefront and has 13 of these nurses attached.

In other news, our neonatal training team are also working closely with colleagues in Kenya and Tanzania. Our neonatal clinical officers have been providing online train the trainer sessions and the whole project is being led by our neonatal lead in Uganda Dr Kathy Burgoine.

We sharing these two updates for two reasons, firstly so you can walk our journey with us and can hear first hand about the wonderful work our team does day to day. Secondly and perhaps most importantly, is to let you know we can only do this with your support. Some of you are regular monthly donors. Everyone $10 a month we get from each of you adds up and allows us to continue employing our critical newborn care training team.

Thank you for your support, please keep going and share our story with your friends and family.

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Jun 6, 2023
Knowledge is power

By Adam Hewitt Smith | Trustee, Born on the Edge

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