Premature Babies...

Most Orphanages take children from 2 years onwards leaving a shortfall of care for the under 2s. Hospitals keep babies untill they reach a discharge weight of 2kg or 4.4lb which is at about 8 weeks so, whichever way you look at it, they are still tiny and vulnerable and at high risk of premature death.

Presently there are limited provisions for high-needs premature babies - who are therefore at risk of dying before their first birthday due to lack of basic hygiene and infection control.

One result of the devastating effects of HIV on communities in Zambia is dying mothers - so tiny babies are left in the care of relatives. Alternative nutrition supplements are needed to see this unnecessary death toll and malnutrition rate decrease. Living conditions are often not a suitable environment for a premature baby, leaving families desperate - often facing another infant death or complication due to malnutrition.

Our aim is to address this issue by providing a suitable transition home where all the needs of an at-risk baby will be met. We then aim to reintegrate them back into extended families by the time they are 2 years of age.