16 Jun 2022

Selebi Phikwe District Health Management Team (DHMT) has received food hampers, clothing and other necessities for two new born babies born at Selebi Phikwe hospital on New Year’s Day.

The hampers, donated through  Mabu project, included necessities for new born babies and additional basic needs for the baby’s family containing largely staple food and clothing.

Mabu, is a collaborative project between South African High Commission in Botswana and the Ministry of Health aimed at donating hampers to first babies born on New Year’s Day across all the 18 DHMTs annually.

Woolworths Botswana country general manager, Ms Gorata Abotseng-Lekau said Mabu project is supported by six companies, which include UNGWA Africa, CA Sales, Choppies Botswana, Woolworths Botswana, FLO-TEK and Kalahari Training Institute supported.

The project, she said, aimed at showing love, warmth and care, hence it reached out to all the districts across the country so that many children were celebrated instead of celebrating only one baby annually.

“Our dream is to make this project bigger next year,” she said.

She said Mabu was not a donation for less privileged families but a noble gesture of celebrating life particularly during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, where some families had lost their loved ones.

For her part, Selebi Phikwe hospital superintendent, Dr Dayana Iraola-Palai thanked Project Mabu for the donation, saying it did not only bring joy to the beneficiaries but also helped recognise the good work that the hospital was synonymous with.

She said New Year’s Day and Christmas Day were remarkable days for all, hence project Mabu should consider celebrating Christmas babies as well.

“We are grateful for the donors. It takes a kind heart to do that,” she said.

She said the hospital always ensured that newborns and their mothers were given the best service.

Acting greater Selebi Phikwe DHMT coordinator, Dr Kesegofetse Chabaesele said the health sector valued human life and always strived to save lives, sometimes at the expense of health workers.

She said anything that helped improve human life should be appreciated, adding that choosing New Year’s Day was worthwhile as the day marked a new beginning for many people.

One of the beneficiaries, Ms Khumo Metsi thanked project Mabu supporters for the donation. ENDS