Physical Health Uganda Project #45267

Centre of excellence for newborn care in Uganda

by Born on the Edge

Project Report | Sep 28, 2026
The Tiny Baby Who Proved It Was Possible

By Kathy Burgoine | Neonatal Lead, Mbale, Eastern Uganda

At just 725 grams, Agwang’s baby lies calmly in the neonatal unit. Born at just 25 weeks of pregnancy, she is incredibly small and fragile. Yet the doctor on duty is amazed by how stable she is. “She is a fighter. We might get another miracle.”

For a baby this tiny, every day is a victory. Agwang, a mother of three, says her pregnancy had been difficult. She had been bleeding throughout the pregnancy and received treatment for several problems, but the bleeding never stopped. Then, one afternoon, everything changed. Her back began to ache. The pain became stronger — and suddenly, her tiny baby was born. Agwang wasn’t sure her baby would survive. Now, in the neonatal unit, she is surprised to see so many other tiny babies — babies just like hers, all fighting for a chance.

“I am beginning to adapt. Fear is leaving me.” Her role may seem simple, but for Agwang it is something new and important: keeping her baby clean, feeding her as instructed, and learning how to care for her tiny daughter. But there was one thing she was very afraid of. Kangaroo Care. “At the start, I really feared I might hurt my baby.” For a mother holding a 725-gram baby for the first time, that fear is understandable. But this is only the beginning of Agwang’s journey. .

At one point, she developed a pneumonia, but with treatment she recovered. She continued to feed well and, after about a month and a half, became less dependent on breathing support. The next challenge was helping her grow and reach the weight needed to be safely discharged home. After two months in the neonatal unit, Agwang desperately wanted to go home. But she knew her baby had been born very early and needed time to grow in an environment where she could receive the care and monitoring she needed. “We are ready to go, but I have to bring her back here for monitoring. They need to check her eyes and her body to make sure there are no problems.” Agwang is excited to return home to the rest of her family, but she knows that her journey with the neonatal team is not over. “I will come. This baby belongs to all of us. I would have loved to stay a little longer, but I miss the other family members. So we will meet again when I bring the baby.” From those tiny beginnings at 25 weeks, Agwang’s baby has grown into a story of resilience, patience, love and hope.

And perhaps most importantly, her story reminds us why we must keep investing in neonatal care — because every tiny life matters.

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May 29, 2026
From Loss to Lifesaving Love

By Sylvia, Sophie & Kathy | Communications team and neonatal lead

When Beatrice was 26 weeks pregnant, she suddenly began feeling a sharp pain in her abdomen. Worried, she rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered she had an infection and immediately started her on treatment.

But just a few hours later, Beatrice began bleeding.

She was rushed back to the hospital, and before she could fully process what was happening, she had to deliver her babies far earlier than expected.

Beatrice had been expecting twins.

Sadly, one of the babies did not survive the birth. The loss left her heartbroken, a pain no mother is ever prepared for. In a single moment, her joy had turned into grief.

Yet beside her was another tiny life still fighting.

Her surviving baby boy was born extremely premature, weighing only 900 grams. Every day since then has been filled with mixed emotions for Beatrice. She is grateful to see her little one alive, yet deep inside she carries the quiet fear of losing him too.

But her baby is proving to be a fighter.

In just two weeks, he has grown from 900 grams to 1.2 kilograms. This small but powerful progress gives Beatrice hope with each passing day.

Amid the uncertainty and the long days in the hospital, Beatrice discovered a way to turn her pain into purpose.

She produces more breast milk than her baby can consume. At first, she had no choice but to pour the excess milk away. But everything changed when she learned about the hospital’s breast milk bank.

Instead of letting it go to waste, Beatrice began donating her milk to help other premature babies whose mothers cannot produce enough.

Now every time she donates, her face lights up with a smile. What once felt like a loss is now becoming a gift for other tiny lives fighting to survive.

Through her milk, Beatrice is not only nourishing her own child, she is helping save the lives of many others.

In the middle of grief, Beatrice chose love. Through that love, hope continues to grow.

Our centre of excellence for newborn care in eastern Uganda is dependent on your support. We cannot help mothers such as Beatrice or their tiny babies with regular donors. Please donate a small amount every month so we can keep saving lives and providing excellent care.

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Jan 26, 2026
Act now for preterms

By Adam Hewitt Smith | Trustee, Born on the Edge

We owe it to babies, families and future generations to act now for preterm babies. Globally, 1 in every 10 babies are born too soon and prematurity is now the leading cause of preventable child deaths, with the vast majority happening in low and middle-income countries like Uganda where we work. Your suport enables us to reach the most vulnerable of patients, the smallest newborns and their mothers at a time when everything seems against them. One example of our work is our Subhi Support Space.

Having a preterm baby in the neonatal unit is far from easy — it’s an emotional, often lonely journey. Subhi Support Space brings together peer supporters, health workers, and a clinical psychologist to walk alongside our preterm parents through weekly group sessions. Neumbe's short testimonial echos the experience of many other mothers and little ones that your donations have touched.

‘’The neonatal unit has been a wonderful place for us and our baby. During these four weeks, we have felt comfortable, cared for, and supported every step of the way. Our baby was a preterm, she was very weak, struggling to breathe, and so small, but the team did everything possible to help her grow stronger. Their dedication and love have made a huge difference, and I am forever grateful.

Today we are going home for Christmas and I encourage all families from different areas to bring their babies to this neonatal unit without fear—you will find love, care, and support from the doctors and nurses.’’ - Neumbe

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Your support can help more families like Neumbe’s to receive this life-saving care. By contributing, you can ensure that more babies survive, thrive, and families experience the same hope and comfort that they did. A small monthly donation from you and your friends makes the difference between life and death. Please sign up now.

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