By Juliet ETEFE
The Kokrokoo Charities Foundation has donated a third incubator to the Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta Region, aiming to reduce neonatal deaths among premature babies.
The gesture, which took place on Saturday, March 2, 2024, follows earlier donations of two incubators to the hospital in 2018. Alongside the incubator, the foundation provided additional items such as scraps, crocs, cover coats, two fridges, sanitary tissues, and a mobile phone to support operations at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital.
Kwami Sefa Kayi, the founder of Kokrokoo Charities and host of Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Morning Show, highlighted that the foundation raised US$10,000 through generous contributions from friends, particularly from Villandro Palms in Ho and Teddies Irish Pub in East Legon, Accra, to acquire these essential items for the unit. The acquisition of the incubators is part of the Foundation’s ‘Project 100′ initiative, aimed at donating 100 incubators to hospitals nationwide to combat infant mortality.
Mr. Sefa Kayi expressed pride in the foundation’s achievements, noting that Saturday’s donation marked the 55th incubator donated to hospitals across the country. He reiterated the foundation’s commitment to reaching the target of 100 incubators, which he believes will significantly enhance the capabilities of neonatal intensive care units and improve the survival chances of preterm infants.
“It is very heartwarming to see these children who have benefited from the earlier incubators. We are proud of what we have done. We are happy that we, through kind donations from companies, individuals, families, and friends, are doing this project. So, 55 down, 45 to go, we agreed to donate 100 incubators. It would not be easy but by God’s grace, we are on it,” he said.
Dr. Bright Richard Danyo, the Head of the Pediatrics and Child Health unit at the Ho Teaching Hospital, expressed gratitude for the foundation’s generosity, stating that the unit now has 11 functional incubators.
He highlighted the positive impact of these interventions, citing a reduction in the mortality rate to 15 percent from the approximately 300 preterm births recorded annually. “Infection prevention is key in care of preterms and it is one of those reasons why the incubator is going to be helpful and then it is helping us reduce our mortality as well. We are grateful that they brought this,” he said.
Dr. Danyo also appealed to corporate entities to support the construction of a mothers’ hostel for the NICU, emphasizing the need for proper accommodation for mothers of preterm babies admitted to the unit.
The Kokrokoo Charities Foundation, a social intervention initiative, aims to address critical social needs in Ghana and tackle emerging development challenges. Utilizing the Kokrokoo Morning Show as a platform, the foundation raises funds and resources to support its initiatives, fostering empathy and support from the public and corporate sectors.
