The Lifesaving Power of Incubators: Why Rural Hospitals in Ghana Desperately Need Them

In the journey of life, the first few days are the most delicate—especially for newborns. For premature or critically ill babies, survival often depends on one essential piece of medical equipment: the neonatal incubator.

What is an Incubator?

An incubator is a temperature-controlled, sterile environment designed to support the development of newborns who are born too soon or with complications. These fragile babies may struggle to regulate their own body temperature, fight infections, or breathe on their own. The incubator helps stabilize them, giving them a safe space to grow and heal.

Why Incubators Matter in Ghana

In many parts of Ghana—especially rural and underserved regions—health facilities lack basic neonatal care equipment. In hospitals where incubators are absent or too few, doctors and nurses are forced to improvise. Sadly, this often leads to preventable deaths.

According to UNICEF, Ghana records over 30,000 neonatal deaths annually. Many of these could be prevented with timely access to equipment like incubators, phototherapy machines, and oxygen support systems.

The Reality in Rural Hospitals

In some district hospitals, there are as few as one or two working incubators—for an entire maternity ward. Imagine a situation where five premature babies need urgent care, but only one incubator is available. Which baby gets the chance to live?

Often, health workers are forced to make impossible choices. In more desperate cases, babies are wrapped in towels and placed under warm bulbs, an unsafe substitute that increases the risk of infections, burns, or heat-related complications.

Our Mission at NEOHIM Foundation

At NEOHIM Foundation, we believe no child should die because a hospital lacked the right equipment. Through our Healthcare Facilities Improvement Program, we work to:

• Raise funds to procure modern neonatal incubators and other essential equipment.
• Donate and distribute these machines to underserved and rural hospitals across Ghana.
• Train health workers on neonatal health and importance of maternal care

Our goal is to ensure that even the most remote clinics have access to the basic equipment they need to give every newborn a fighting chance.

How You Can Help

• Donate: Your contribution can help purchase incubators, Phototherapy machines, beds, respiratory support devices, Vital signs monitor, Feeding tubes, etc.
• Partner with Us: We welcome support from corporate sponsors, medical suppliers, and international NGOs.
• Spread the Word: Share this post. Raise awareness about the challenges neonatal units face across Ghana.

Every baby deserves the right to survive their first 28 days of life.
  With your help, we can build a future where no family loses a child due to a lack of equipment.

👉 Donate today. Save a newborn tomorrow.