Premature babies at Mulago get free mattresses

By Violet Nabatanzi
 
Premature babies at Mulago hospital’s special care unit have received free mattresses.

The deputy executive director, Dr. Doreen Male, said the donation is a much needed shot-in-the-arm as the unit is in need of them.
 
Speaking during the handover ceremony Tuesday, Male said the mattresses will help babies to breathe well and feed properly.
 
The specially designed mattresses were donated by Jackie Sebuyiira who is working as a freelance midwife in the United Kingdom.
 
Male said: “Premature babies have so many problems; sometimes they cannot breastfeed naturally so they have to be fed through the nose. Since their functioning is not good many of them tend to bring back stuff when they  are fed.”
 
She said that the mattresses have been scientifically tested and have been approved.
 
The special care unit is meant to admit only 40 babies but most of the time the number accumulates to 70 because some of the babies admitted are coming from other hospitals.
 
Male urged hospitals to deal with premature babies instead of referring them to Mulago.