The paediatric departments at Tygerberg Hospital in Parow, Cape Town, recently received a life-saving donation of essential medical equipment made possible by the Tygerberg Hospital Children’s Trust. The trust says through the handover of nebulisers, blood warmers and scales recently, it has once again demonstrated its commitment to enhancing healthcare outcomes for children and neonates.
The trust is the fundraising arm of the hospital and often receives much-needed medical equipment donated to them by private companies, donors or philanthropists.
Speaking at the handover, Prof Pierre Goussard, chair of the trust, joined Prof Gugu Kali and nursing sisters Flora Jaftha and Neliswa Madingana in receiving the equipment that will directly support front-line healthcare workers in delivering specialised and life-saving care to vulnerable young patients.
The donation, which took place on Thursday 21 May, included three blood warmers, two scales and six nebulisers.
Blood warmers
The blood warmers are to ensure vulnerable neonates remain safe and warm during treatment and procedures. This is especially important for premature babies and neonates, who cannot regulate their body temperature effectively. In neonatal and paediatric care, blood warmers help ensure that tiny and vulnerable patients remain stable, safe and comfortable during treatment, while supporting better clinical outcomes, a statement issued by the Children’s Trust reads.
Scales
The scales will accurately monitor the growth and development of babies. Scales are essential in paediatric care because accurate weight measurement is critical to a child’s diagnosis, treatment, growth monitoring and overall health management. For sick children, precise weight monitoring can be lifesaving, as weight fluctuations may significantly influence medical decisions and treatment plans, the statement reads.
Nebulisers
The nebulisers are to strengthen critical respiratory support within the paediatric intensive care unit. Nebulisers play a vital role by delivering medication directly into a child’s lungs in the form of a fine mist, making treatment faster and more effective for critically ill children with breathing difficulties.
In the paediatric intensive care unit, nebulisers are commonly used to relieve airway obstruction and wheezing, deliver bronchodilators to open the airways, administer medications for severe respiratory infections or inflammation, help loosen mucus and improve breathing and support children with conditions such as asthma, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or other acute respiratory illnesses, the statement reads.
The Children’s Trust says the equipment will significantly enhance the ability of medical and nursing teams to continue providing high-quality, compassionate and intentional care to children receiving treatment at Tygerberg Hospital.
“It takes a village and we have an incredible one,” a representative of the trust says, acknowledging the collective efforts of donors, partners, healthcare professionals and supporters who make these interventions possible.
The trust expressed its sincere gratitude to all donors and supporters whose generosity continues to create meaningful impact within the hospital environment.
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