Golf Day for Kangaroo Care

31 October 2014 - By Deborah Minors

The (WPF) will host a at the , Johannesburg, to raise funds towards the Kangaroo Mother Care programme for prematurely born babies.

Prematurity is the leading cause of deaths in babies younger than four weeks. The earlier a child is born, the less their bodies are equipped to cope with conditions in the world outside the uterus. Many survivors endure lifelong physical, mental or educational disabilities.

The WPF works in the paediatric units of Wits Medical School’s three teaching hospitals - , , and Mother & Child Hospitals.

“Out of around 2 500 babies born each month in all three WPF hospitals, 17 percent are premature,” says WPF Chairperson and Wits alumna Prof. Daynia Ballot. “Our Kangaroo Mother Care programme is a cost-effective solution which enables the tiny infant to maintain a constant body temperature and avoid hypothermia. Our prem babies respond extremely positively and kangaroo-care increases the survival rate of our neonatal infants.”

The Wits Paediatric Fund operates under the auspices of the and is run by a specialist team including alumni Dr Paul Adams, Prof.Daynia Ballot, Dr , Prof. , Dr , Prof. Lorna Jacklin, Dr , Dr , and Dr .

Donate or email deena.hesp@wits.ac.za to participate in a 4-ball or as a sponsor.

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