Hospitals are often places associated with worry and sadness. People visit hospitals when they or their loved ones are unwell, and the atmosphere is usually one of concern. The situation is particularly worrying for new mothers who had to stay at the hospital for days by reason of ill health of their neonates. This worry is compounded where such mothers are unable to cater for the needs of the infants and themselves.
However, on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the mood was different at the Pediatric Unit of the Upper West Regional Hospital as the Kisika Foundation brought joy and hope to newborns, sick children and their mothers.
The Kisika Foundation, a humanitarian organization, donated various items to newborns and infants who were hospitalized at the facility. The items included baby welcome clothes, baby shoes, overall garments, and play items like baby walkers. Others were sanitary pads and disposable panties for mothers.
Adumbireh Kisika Erika (Mrs.), co-founder of the Foundation, said the donation was necessitated by observations which showed some new mothers struggle to provide these basic needs after childbirth.
Thus, the items donated were for the less-privileged who are unable to acquire basic mother care items during childbirth and not those who are well to do. “This is our widow’s mite to support the less privileged mothers who cannot afford to provide for their kids, we are giving out of the little we have” she stated.
Mrs. Adumbireh underscored the need to “share the little we have with others”, urging the general public to support the underprivileged in society not because they have in abundance. “You don’t need to be rich before you can help,” she advised.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the children, Dr. Akanzun Matilda, the Pediatrician Specialist at the Upper West Regional Hospital, expressed gratitude to the Kisika Foundation for their thoughtfulness to help the children.
She indicated the support was timely and crucial. “These are things that are very much needed at our unit”.
The Pediatrician Specialist said the play items will decorate the place and support the recovery of infants who are admitted at the hospital.
“Currently we do not have play items that help the kids to play around when they are recovering from their illness,” she disclosed, asserting that colourful and catchy play items “are shown to be therapeutic to children’s recovery”.
Dr. Matilda said the clothes will also support the social aspect of their work and relief staff of extra cost. According to her, there are instances where mothers are unable to procure basic clothes and sanitary products during childbirth. “Sometimes we go into our pockets to buy formulae and clothes for these children”
She called on other people to emulate the Kisika Foundation by supporting the health needs of the less privileged in the society.
About the Foundation
The KISIKA FOUNDATION is humanitarian organisation co-founded by Kisika and her husband, Mr. Cupid Adumbireh, and headquartered in Accra. It is centred on supporting underprivileged children and women in Ghana. Its main focus is to help children realise their dreams and achieve their full potentials. The support comes in the form of education, health and shelter. The Kisika Foundation also aims at uplifting women by empowering them in business and other sustainable means.
Filed by: Adams, Timbile Hafiz
