Hey! My name is Michelle Musa, and I'm currently interning in the neonatal department and labor ward at Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital in Arusha, Tanzania.

In Tanzania, families are often responsible for covering the full cost of their medical care, including medications and the use of essential equipment. Sadly, this means that many newborns don’t receive the care they urgently need.

The hospital where I volunteer also cares for babies whose mothers are severely ill. In addition, to the lack of medical equipment, there’s often a shortage of necessities including diapers, wipes, and other daily supplies.

The neonatal unit at Mount Meru is currently in urgent need of an additional CPAP machine, phototherapy machine, infusion pump and a radiant warmer. 

CPAP machine:

There is a shortage of CPAP machines. The CPAP machines are used to support babies with breathing difficulties leading to certain babies being prioritized over others instead of each baby receiving the much needed care.

Phototherapy machine:

Ideally, it should be one neonate per phototherapy machine, but there can be up to three babies under one machine.

Infusion pump:

There is a shortage of infusion pumps, which it is needed for delivering precise medication doses to the neonates.

Radiant warmer:

Radiant warmers are needed to support the multiple premature and ill neonates.

These machines are essential for saving newborn lives but can be very expensive.

My goal is to raise funds to purchase at least one critical machine and purchase  basic supplies like diapers and wipes for the babies.

Every donation will go directly toward supporting this unit and giving these vulnerable newborns a better chance at life. Thank you so much for your support!