Health Minister donates gifts to newly born babies at cottage hospital
The Health Minister explained that the donation was in respect of the President's vision to develop the human capital in the country
The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby on behalf of the President, Rtd,
Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and Madam Fatima Bio have distributed assorted baby items to over 20 newly born babies at the Ola During Hospital (Cottage) in Freetown. The item includes; blankets, caps, flax, boxes, powder, a sleeping bag, a set of cotton, multiple feeding bottles, kits, etc. According to the Minister, the gifts were from the President, Julius Maada Bio, and the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio, and the gifts were for newly born babies that were born after 12 am in the morning hours of Monday 2 May 2022. The donation was done on Monday 2 May at the Cottage Hospital in Freetown.
Speaking to Beyond Borders after the donation, the Health Minister explained that the donation was in respect of the President’s vision to develop the human capital in the country, adding that for the past years, the President and the First Lady have used the independent day to donate items to newly born babies but however, he said because of the busy schedule of the President and the First Lady, the donations were not distributed on that particular day but however, but he furthered said they also used pray day as the best day to make such donations.
He continued that they wanted to deal with the children as they grow and meet all of their health
masters “they are going to be our next doctors, they are going to be our next lawyers, nurses that
is really important and that is why we decided to come on this day to make the distribution. The
donation is a commitment made by the President for his strides to develop the human capacity
which begins at birth. We want to thank all the healthcare workers and congratulate all these
newly born babies” he said. Explaining the multiple impacts of the gifts on the babies, Dr. Austin Demby stated that it would help them grow in a positive way, noting that pictures were taken during the donation after 10 or 20 years the children would remember that one day when they were born “they received gifts from the President through the Health Minister and have a big smile on their faces that capture. For the parents, it is a recognition that the government cares.
It is also a recognition that it is really important to be able to deliver in a hospital setting. Because if you deliver in a hospital, you have all the care you need to have a healthy baby, if there is a problem we will be able to know those problems before they get worse” he said. He thanked the healthcare workers at the hospital, commending them that they were doing a credible job, and encouraged them to continue carrying out the good work. He said being that the hospital is one of the biggest referral hospitals in the country, the Minister called on the healthcare workers to double their efforts in helping save the lives of babies.
Appreciating the Minister by extension the President, the Deputy Matron at the Ola During
Hospital, Christiana Sawyer thanked the Minister and the President for such donations, adding
that the gifts “came at the right, because most of these items that are given to these mothers are
essential and that most of them cannot afford them” she said. She disclosed that since 12am that morning, they had already received over 35 newly born babies from the hospital. She also stated that the donations were only meant for 20 babies. “These kinds of gifts will help the mothers out there to motivate them to come to the facility and give birth. And giving birth to these communities increases infant and child mortality rate” she encouraged.
One of the beneficiaries, Veronica Kanu, who gave birth to a baby girl, appreciated and thanked
the President for thinking about them. She said receiving such gifts from the President is a
blessing and that she was even thinking about how to afford most of these items for her baby.
She also thanked the healthcare workers at the hospital for the care and respect they have for
them as patients. She reported to the Minister that the Matron and her Deputy are very
accommodating to them and normally treat them with dignity and respect therefore, called
on the healthcare workers in hospitals in the country to emulate the good work of the Matron and
her healthcare workers.
By Mohamed Amara Gando
