The Friends and Family of Dr. Norberto DeGuzman have been helping bring this NICU together, in his memory. Dr. Deguzman was an ObGyn, a founding Yonkofa Project advisory board member, and a co-worker and preceptor of other members of the Yonkofa board of directors. Most importantly, Dr. DeGuzman loved babies. There is nothing more fitting than honoring his legacy with a NICU that saves these precious little lives.
IT ALL STARTED WHEN….
Last November, we donated an incubator and infant monitor to Half Assini District Hospital. We knew that not-so-very-premature babies were dying in Ghana because of lack of fundamental equipment. The incubator saved its first baby within a couple weeks. We also donated additional supplies and equipment, filling the NICU with the things necessary to save lives. On December 2, 2023, using the donations raised from Giving Tuesday, we purchased a second incubator in Ghana, this one coupled with a phototherapy station. It saw its first patient the same day, and the other incubator was simultaneously occupied. We have a third incubator that was donated from a closed U.S. hospital, but it needs a humidier upgrade that is $4,000. The part number is (Drager) MU17605. Another option is to purchase a third incubator in Ghana for $6,700. This one will also have the phototherapy station. Another critical need is infant monitors. They are $2,300 per monitor.
We are also creating a NICU at Enchi District Hospital. So far, we have provided one incubator and monitor, infant warmers, bassinets, and a firefly phototherapy unit. As soon as we complete the NICU in Half Assini, we will circle back and complete the NICU at Enchi.
Since we opened the NICU the mortality of premature newborns treated at the hospital is now virtually zero. In just over a year, this NICU helped save 228 babies! Tiny patients who are forced to travel long distances for treatment still suffer terrible odds, so we must take care of them at their home hospital. We need to help the wonderful staff at Half Assini Hospital, have they tools the need to treat the babies there, and save them.
This tiny baby girl was the start of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the hospital. She stayed in the incubator nearly a month and survived to become a healthy infant!
DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL SUPPLIES?
We are trying to track down donations of the following supplies, and other NICU supplies, so that these babies can receive life saving care. If you have have any supplies to donate, please email info@yonkofa.org. THANK YOU!!
DO YOU SEW, KNIT, or CROCHET?
The NICU will need to remain stocked with receiving blankets, baby blankets, bassinet sheets, and hats/socks for preemies and micropreemies. Crafting Change, an organization we partner with for the Keep Girls in School program, has agreed to also stock the Half Assini Hospital NICU and maternity ward wth these necessary items. Please check out their link for patterns and quantities needed. We would love your help. https://www.craftingchange.org/projects-theyonkofaproject
