It was a very proud moment for members of Rotary and Tambo Memorial Hospital staff to witness the official launch of the Kangaroo Mother Care Lodger facility, which forms part of the neonatal unit, on November 17.
The facility, or KMC Ward, at the hospital will accommodate mothers during their premature babies’ stay in hospital.
Held at the Villa Nerina Hall, the launch was aligned with the commemoration of World Premature Day, celebrated annually on November 17.
Attendees included Rotarians from the Boksburg Lake, Boksburg, Benoni Aurora Rotary and the Benoni Van Ryn clubs. The Tambo Memorial baby pack network team, as well as mothers of premature babies who were born at the hospital a few years ago, also graced the event.
Addressing guests, Dr Zukiswa Mjamekwana, a HOD at Tambo Memorial Hospital, said that the section that has been utilised to house the mothers was a very hotly contested area; sought after by various other departments.
Mjamekwana added that after an outbreak of infection, which hit the unit in 2018 due to the overcrowding of babies in that unit, they had to prioritise the neonatal ward to reduce overcrowding.
The facilitator of this project, Lebo Makhathini, of Rotary Club Boksburg, shared her excitement about what was once only an idea now turned into a reality – for Rotary and Tambo Memorial.
They were approached by the hospital in 2019 with the idea of upgrading ward one into a Kangaroo Mother Care Lodger facility.
“As a club, this project was very dear to us, which is why we then submitted requests for funds from the Rotary Foundation, which were granted.
“Through the correlation of other clubs, we were able to buy furniture, including eight beds, tables, lamps, a microwave, linen, fridges and many other items for the ward,” said Makhathini.
She added that about R80 000 had so far been spent on the project and that
Rotary is continuing to lend a helping hand to two other wards at the hospital.
During the event, Rotary’s district governor, Stella Anyangwe, handed over two Rotary Club flags to the hospital CEO, Dr Zenzo Ndabula.
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Ndabula thanked all healthcare providers and members of the Rotary Club for their support.
“The KMC Ward gives mothers space to provide post-birth care for babies under the care of healthcare practitioners.
One of the mothers, Makwena Matlala, of Parkdene, said the ward has a homely feel to it.
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