Babies get fighting chance
10 March 2010, 13:10
By Health Writer
Groote Schuur Hospital, with the help of generous donors, has managed to raise funds for 23 new incubators - surpassing the original target by three and giving its cash-strapped neonatal unit an even better chance of saving babies.
On Tuesday the organisers of the incubator campaign handed over a cheque of just more than R1,6-million to the hospital.
The two-month long campaign, which initially aimed to raise R1,4-million to buy 20 incubators, was a joint initiative of the hospital's fundraising arm, the Newborns Groote Schuur Trust, Pick n Pay, the Cape Argus, Heart 104.9FM, I&J and Kite.
Neonatal head Professor Clarissa Pieper said the new incubators would help the unit to work "better and more efficiently".
She said the success of the project sent a message of hope to communities and to the cash-strapped public sector.
Pick n Pay's regional manager, Abdurahman Hamdulay, described the project's success as "heart-warming".
"The fact that we've surpassed our target is phenomenal. It shows that the people of Cape Town really care and it also shows that the incubator project touched the most basic of emotions out there.
"Getting additional incubators means that many more lives will now be saved," he said.
Cape Argus executive editor Gasant Abarder praised the "real heroes" (doctors and nurses) of the neonatal unit, who worked tirelessly to save lives.
He said being part of the project was about helping the most vulnerable.
"I was struck by the generosity of Capetonians towards the project. When the Cape Argus was asked to be part of the project, it was an easy decision because it was about helping save the lives of the most vulnerable people in our society."
Referring to the success of the project, Abarder said: "I knew we could do it, but I didn't think it would happen so soon. It's been a privilege for us to contribute to such a heart-warming project."
Heart 104.9FM managing director Gavin Meiring said he was pleased by the project's achievement.
He said the station felt that it had made a difference to the lives of premature babies.
The unit, which looks after premature babies, gets about 200 admissions every month and it cares for between 60 and 80 babies on any given day.
Pieper said the incubators would be added to the 48 incubators the hospital had, and would replace old ones which were irreparable.
She said some of the old incubators which were still usable would be refurbished and given to some of the cash-strapped secondary and primary health hospitals.
The new incubators were set to be imported from Germany and were expected to arrive at the neonatal unit in eight weeks.
Groote Schuur Hospital, with the help of generous donors, has managed to raise funds for 23 new incubators - surpassing the original target by three and giving its cash-strapped neonatal unit an even better chance of saving babies.
On Tuesday the organisers of the incubator campaign handed over a cheque of just more than R1,6-million to the hospital.
The two-month long campaign, which initially aimed to raise R1,4-million to buy 20 incubators, was a joint initiative of the hospital's fundraising arm, the Newborns Groote Schuur Trust, Pick n Pay, the Cape Argus, Heart 104.9FM, I&J and Kite.
Neonatal head Professor Clarissa Pieper said the new incubators would help the unit to work "better and more efficiently".
She said the success of the project sent a message of hope to communities and to the cash-strapped public sector.
Pick n Pay's regional manager, Abdurahman Hamdulay, described the project's success as "heart-warming".
"The fact that we've surpassed our target is phenomenal. It shows that the people of Cape Town really care and it also shows that the incubator project touched the most basic of emotions out there.
"Getting additional incubators means that many more lives will now be saved," he said.
Cape Argus executive editor Gasant Abarder praised the "real heroes" (doctors and nurses) of the neonatal unit, who worked tirelessly to save lives.
He said being part of the project was about helping the most vulnerable.
"I was struck by the generosity of Capetonians towards the project. When the Cape Argus was asked to be part of the project, it was an easy decision because it was about helping save the lives of the most vulnerable people in our society."
Referring to the success of the project, Abarder said: "I knew we could do it, but I didn't think it would happen so soon. It's been a privilege for us to contribute to such a heart-warming project."
Heart 104.9FM managing director Gavin Meiring said he was pleased by the project's achievement.
He said the station felt that it had made a difference to the lives of premature babies.
The unit, which looks after premature babies, gets about 200 admissions every month and it cares for between 60 and 80 babies on any given day.
Pieper said the incubators would be added to the 48 incubators the hospital had, and would replace old ones which were irreparable.
She said some of the old incubators which were still usable would be refurbished and given to some of the cash-strapped secondary and primary health hospitals.
The new incubators were set to be imported from Germany and were expected to arrive at the neonatal unit in eight weeks.
- This article was originally published on page 3 of The Cape Argus on March 10, 2010
Pretoria
