Accra, Ghana//- Staff of MTN Ghana Foundation today distributed hampers to 500 babies born on Christmas and Boxing Day across the country.
The hampers, each comprising blankets, diapers, towels, shawls, bibs, toiletries, clothes, and other baby essentials were distributed to mothers in over 10 hospitals in the 16 regions of Ghana.
Mothers with multiple births were given additional hampers for each baby.
The Foundation, which is the corporate social responsibility wing of MTN Ghana, the leading telecom company in the country, also presented MTN network recharge cards to the new mothers to enable them to make calls to break the news of their delivery to their families and friends.
Madam Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer (CCSSO) of MTN Ghana who led a team to present 100 hampers to new mothers at the Maternity Ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, said similar donations were made nationwide.
This year, the company is distributing a total of 500 hampers at a cost of over GHC 200,000 across the country.
Speaking to journalists after the distribution of the hampers, Madam Wiafe said: “Today is Boxing Day and it is a day of giving. So, at MTN, we give, and we believe in giving and putting a smile on the faces of not only our customers but the people that we come into contact with and society at large”.
So, today is an occasion for us to come in here and give to the mothers who had babies yesterday and today, and just to say thank you, everybody, for supporting us throughout the year”.
The rationale of the donation, according to her was meant to support the new-born mothers.
MTN is committed to celebrating with the new mothers who have successfully delivered on festive occasions like Christmas, Madam Wiafe added.
She used the occasion to congratulate the newborn mothers and wish customers and stakeholders of MTN Ghana a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Speaking on behalf of her colleague nursing mothers, Esther Acheampong who delivered on 25th December, said, “This is my best Christmas. I will surely tell my baby when he grows up that MTN brought him lovely gifts when he was born”.
While thanking MTN Ghana for the support extended to the babies and their mothers, the Senior Midwifery Officer at the Maternity Unit of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ms Jennifer Kwansa Hudson said the Unit recorded 15 deliveries on 25th December 2023.
Four of them were males, while 11 were females. These statistics were gathered as at 7:30 am today, she explained.
“Other babies were those who had already delivered this week, and they were in the ward”, Madam Hudson.
Since 2011, the MTN Ghana Foundation has donated over 2,000 hampers including this year’s to babies born on Christmas Day.
The donation is one of the many ways the MTN Ghana Foundation has catered for the health needs of several individuals and medical institutions across Ghana.
The project started with a few regions however by 2020 all the then 10 regions have been included.
The donation is also one of how the Foundation has helped to brighten the lives of members of the Ghanaian community. The presentation of the hampers was given to celebrate the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Since its inception in 2007, the MTN Ghana Foundation has improved access to healthcare by building hospital blocks and CHPS Compounds and donating medical equipment to various health centres.
Some health projects the MTN Ghana Foundation has undertaken include the construction of a Neonatal Care Centre for Tamale Teaching Hospital, refurbishment of the 2nd-floor maternity block of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, construction of maternity blocks for Ejisu Government Hospital and the Tema General Hospital; and the provision of an Emergency Center for Atua Government Hospital.
In all, the Foundation has invested in over 140 projects across the country.
