Tygerberg Hospital in Parow, Cape Town — the Western Cape’s largest district general hospital — this week received two state-of-the-art lifesaving Dräger Babylog neonatal ventilators.

The ventilators, a donation to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, were handed over on Wednesday 29 July by the Tygerberg Hospital Children’s Trust, a non-profit and public benefit organisation that raises funds for life-saving medical equipment.

The trust says the donation marks yet another significant milestone in strengthening neonatal intensive care for some of South Africa’s most vulnerable patients.

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The Dräger Babylog ventilators provide highly specialised respiratory support for premature and critically ill newborn babies requiring intensive care. Designed specifically for neonatal patients, the equipment offers advanced ventilation modes that help protect delicate lungs while improving clinical outcomes during the most critical stages of life, says Louise Theron, chief executive of the trust.

Tygerberg Hospital serves as one of South Africa’s leading tertiary academic hospitals and is home to one of the country’s largest Neonatal Intensive Care Units, caring for babies referred from across the Western Cape and beyond. The addition of these ventilators enhances the hospital’s capacity to deliver world-class, lifesaving care to newborns facing complex medical challenges, she says.

“This handover represents far more than the delivery of medical equipment,” says Theron. “Each ventilator represents hope for families, another opportunity for a fragile newborn to fight for life and an investment in the future of our children.”

Access to medical care

The official handover reflects the shared commitment of the trust, Tygerberg Hospital and donors to ensure that every child has access to the best possible medical care, regardless of their circumstances.

As the trust celebrates its 25th anniversary, the organisation remains committed to bridging the gap between available healthcare resources and the growing needs of children receiving treatment at Tygerberg Hospital, says Theron.

Tygerberg Hospital is also the second-largest public hospital in South Africa, with a bed capacity of 1899.

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