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Reflecting on April: Advocacy, Awareness and Empowerment

Reflecting on April: Advocacy, Awareness and Empowerment

As we bid farewell to April, it’s time to pause and reflect on the flurry of activities that kept our organisation bustling with energy and purpose. From raising awareness on crucial issues, to forging international connections, here’s a recap of the significant highlights from the past month. Autism and C-Section Awareness Campaigns April saw us amplify our voices for two vital causes. Our collective efforts in spreading knowledge and fostering understanding undoubtedly contributed to greater awareness and support within our community. Celebrating our Warriors’ Birthdays April marked another month of joyous celebrations as we honoured the birthdays of our cherished warriors. It’s heartwarming to witness the outpouring of love as we come together to celebrate milestones and victories, both big and small. These moments remind us of the strength and solidarity that define our tribe. Hospital Visit – Dr SK Matseke Memorial Hospital The Preemie Family Hospital Connect session in April was at the Clinix Health Group, , joined by the unit manager and amazing new preemie families. The sessions are always amazing to welcome them to the preemie world and of cause hold their hands through the journey. Participation in the 4th Parent Organisation Summit A pivotal highlight of April was the opportunity for our chairperson, Moshala Mothiba to represent the organisation at the EFCNI Summit held at Freising, Munich in Germany. This global gathering brought together 47 Parent Organisations from 32 countries, uniting advocates and activists with shared focus on supporting premature babies and their families. The summit was not only a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration but also a source of inspiration and empowerment. Our interactions with fellow advocates and organisations reaffirmed our commitment to driving positive change and provided invaluable insights to fuel our efforts moving forward. Empowerment and Networking in Germany The journey to Germany proved to be immensely enriching as we returned home empowered and invigorated by our experiences. Networking with like-minded organisations and leaders enabled us to expand our perspectives, exchange best practices, and forge meaningful partnerships. The connections we established hold immense potential for future collaborations, amplifying the impact of our advocacy efforts both locally and globally. We connected with our sister organisations from Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana where we will begin working together to support each other while raising awareness and implementing initiatives to address the unique needs and challenges within each context. Our presence and contributions in these communities underscore our unwavering dedication to creating positive change and fostering sustainable development across the African continent. As we look back on April’s accomplishments, we are reminded of the power of collective action and the importance of steadfast determination in pursuit of our mission. While each endeavour brings its own set of challenges and triumphs, our shared vision unites us in a common purpose: to advocate, empower, and uplift those in need. With renewed zeal and unwavering resolve, we embark on the journey ahead, fueled by the memories and milestones of April, and inspired by the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Would love to know how your April was. Maybe we could also collaborate in the future N.B: Don’t forget to sign up below for our monthly newsletter to be kept updated on all our programmes.

NICU Awareness Month

NICU Awareness Month

September is NICU awareness month, therefore, our organisation joined the global effort to raise awareness about this life saving unit at the hospitals. Someone who has no experience with the preemie world may wonder what is a NICU? A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT which forms part of the hospital in the maternity ward. Here, our premature infants receive round the clock medical care in the early hours, days, weeks, and months after birth. Because of different medical conditions at birth, some full-term infants sometimes end up in the NICU. Our babies are still in the early stages of development because we delivered prematurely. They require immediate medical attention which is provided for at this specific unit. Nobody really know the exact period of a baby NICU, sometimes the Dr and Nurses work on estimates. It is often determined by the baby development while we all join hands in giving them the support needed. This is a unit that completely changed many people’s life. Premature birth and the NICU experience has had an impact on families. The one unit that is full of mixed emotions and can be overwhelming at times. Doctors and NICU nurses working in this unit are often referred to as our “living angels”. They nurture our children like their own and go the extra mile to comfort each and every family that walks into their doors. We are forever grateful to every medical team member and the bonds created with all the NICU families. “The NICU is a place where the tiniest hands hold the biggest hearts.” Are you a NICU family, would love to hear about your NICU experience

November Recap: A Month of Milestones and Meaningful Impact

November Recap: A Month of Milestones and Meaningful Impact

November was nothing short of extraordinary for us. From celebrating a huge milestone in our journey to making waves in the global movement for premature birth awareness campaign. November was packed with purpose, passion and progress. Here’s a look back at the highlights that made November a month to remember! 🎉 Celebrating 5 Years of ImpactNovember marked a special milestone, our 5th anniversary!  Five years of dedication, compassion and advocacy for premature babies and their families. What started as a small initiative has grown into a powerful voice in the community. We couldn’t have done it without the support of our amazing families, partners, volunteers and supporters. Here’s to many more years of making a difference! We celebrated our 5th anniversary with a special podcast where we hosted Dr Khutso Sebetseba, talking about her journey as a preemie mom to quadruplets and a Dr for small people. She loves her job as a Paediatrician and enjoys putting smiles on our babies. Catch up on the episode to know who Dr K is and her prematurity experience https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmqIvyUi6lM&t=169s World Prematurity Awareness MonthWe joined the global community during World Prematurity Awareness Month. Prematurity is a cause that is close to our hearts, and it’s been incredible to see the world come together to highlight this important issue. Together, we are making strides in educating and advocating for the tiniest fighters who need our love, care and attention. https://trello.com/c/TBeplAzd/153-mahlogonolo-thobile-foundation. Family Fun Walks for a CauseWhat better way to raise awareness than through action? In November, we hosted not one but TWO Family Fun Walks. The first in Mankweng, Limpopo Province and the third in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. These events brought communities together, with families, supporters, and local heroes walking side by side to raise awareness about prematurity. The energy, smiles and sense of unity were truly uplifting. A big thank you to our sponsors for their unwavering support. Your contributions helped make these events a resounding success, and together, we have made a lasting impact in the fight against premature birth. Engaging with Hospitals and Health LeadersNovember wasn’t just about our events, we were also deeply involved in the World Prematurity Day celebrations in both Limpopo and Gauteng. We responded to invitations from our network of hospitals to join them in raising awareness and supporting families affected by premature birth. Additionally, we had the honor of joining Dräger in their celebrations for World Prematurity Day. These collaborations allowed us to connect with health professionals, share resources and continue advocating for better care for preemies. A Month of Growth and GratitudeNovember was by far the busiest month for our organisation and while it was challenging, it was also incredibly rewarding. We are filled with gratitude for all the support, the hard work of our volunteers and the dedication of our partners. Together, we are raising awareness, making a difference and giving premature babies the fighting chance they deserve. We want to thank each and every one of you for your support. Whether you walked with us, shared our message or partnered with us, you are a part of this important journey. Here’s to more milestones, more awareness and more lives changed in the months ahead.  Do visit our social media pages for daily updates. https://www.instagram.com/prembabies_moms/ https://www.facebook.com/MahlogonoloThobileFoundation https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FMahlogonoloTho1 Please donate by clicking on the link https://mahlogonolothobile.org/donations/ to help us keep the organisation growing while touching

September Recap: Raising NICU Awareness, Supporting Families and Family Fun Walk 

September Recap: Raising NICU Awareness, Supporting Families and Family Fun Walk 

In September, our organisation joined the global movement to raise awareness about Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and the incredible work of the staff within them. As part of our commitment to supporting families with children in the NICU, we visited Bertha Gxowa Hospital in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province and Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo Province, Polokwane to donate Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) wraps in collaboration with Safeline Pharmaceuticals https://www.safeline.co.za/ As the organisation, we constantly emphasize the importance of skin-to-skin care, a practice which is beneficial for both premature and full-term babies facing complications at birth. This nurturing connection promotes brain development, helps with weight gain, stimulates breast milk production and fosters precious bonding time between parents and their little ones. Additionally, we continue to encourage families to be part of our upcoming Family Fun Walk, open to the public! This event aims to raise awareness about prematurity and encourage community involvement. Join us in this important initiative to learn more about the challenges faced by NICU families and how we can support them. This year will be the third leg in Gauteng, Johannesburg and will be the first of many to come for Mankweng in Limpopo Province. Don’t Miss Out! Be part of a growing tradition that just keeps getting better. This year promises to be our best one yet, more energy, more excitement and more memories to make! Together, let’s continue to make a difference in the lives of NICU families!

August: A Month of Connection, Celebration and Support!

August: A Month of Connection, Celebration and Support!

August was an incredible month for the foundation, packed with meaningful events and impactful moments! 💜 We kicked off by raising awareness for Breastfeeding Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of breastfeeding for preemie families. Shortly after, we were honoured to attend Dr. Machaba’s “Secrets of Super Powered Moms” event https://www.drlmachaba.co.za/product/Secrets-of-Super-Powered-Moms-Book on Mother’s Day. Meeting warrior mom Andre Smith and hearing her powerful prematurity story was truly inspiring. Throughout the month, we visited Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Dr SK Matseke Memorial Hospital, Netcare Park Lane Hospital and South Rand Hospital to congratulate new mothers and welcome them into the preemie family. One of the highlights was South Rand Hospital’s exciting launch of their new Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Ward, where we donated 40 KMC wraps, generously provided by https://www.safeline.co.za to the current new moms and for the hospitals to reuse. In total we distributed 80 wraps including Rahima Moosa Mother & Child hospital.  As part of our ongoing podcast series, we featured Ivy, a proud member of our tribe, who shared her prematurity journey. If you missed it, you can catch up [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78mHC_GWz0k ]!  Not only that, we look forward to host you and your family on our upcoming family fun walk in both Limpopo and Gauteng provinces. Click on the link below to be part of the initiative, the more the merrier https://mahlogonolothobile.org/preemie-day-fun-walk/ It was an incredible August, and we’re thrilled about what’s coming in September!