Baby Watoto Photo Album 2013

Baby Watoto Kampala (The Bulrushes) was the first facility established in 2007 to rescue the most destitute infants.

Symbolically named after the bulrushes (papyrus reeds) that saved the biblical Moses from drowning in the River Nile, the first Watoto baby to be rescued was also named Moses.

Today, the facility predominantly cares for infants under 6 months old including newborns, pre-mature babies and very sick babies who need constant medical attention.

Because of its central location in downtown Kampala, the home is a reception centre for newly rescued infants.

BABY WATOTO KAMPALA

BABY WATOTO

Tucked away on the slopes of Watoto’s Suubi Village outside Kampala, Baby Watoto Suubi enjoys the serenity of a vast landscape and views of lush green hills and valleys.

It is our largest Baby Watoto facility, with a capacity to care for 120 babies at any given time.

The home was opened in February 2010 and primarily cares for older infants, easing the transition to a permanent home in the Watoto village.

BABY WATOTO SUUBI

Baby Watoto Gulu was opened in June 2010 as a response to the overwhelming need in northern Uganda, a region recovering from over two decades of civil war.

As a result of mounting poverty and broken families, there has been an increase in child abandonment, especially by teenage mothers who cannot care for their newborns.

Baby Watoto Gulu has the capacity to care for over 60 babies.

BABY WATOTO GULU

Dehydrated, cold, jaundiced, suffering from newborn sepsis and weighing only 1 kg, Baby Elizabeth arrived at Baby Watoto Kampala as a very sick preemie. She was born and abandoned close to the facility. Elizabeth is now a happy and healthy toddler who lives at Baby Watoto Suubi and is almost ready to graduate to our Watoto village.

JANUARY

Baby Elizabeth

Abandoned in a local hospital shortly after birth, Baby Sophia was cold, hungry and alone when we rescued her. We placed her in a warm incubator upon arrival at Baby Watoto and provided her with milk for her empty stomach. She also needed urgent medical attention. Now, only a few months later, Baby Sophia is a healthy and content baby who weighs 4.2 kg (9.24 lb.).

FEBRUARY

Baby Sophia

BEFORE AFTER

Elizabeth, Jane & Cally

Over the last 12 months Baby Watoto has provided specialised care to over 40 preemies, some weighing as little as 740 grams (1.2 lb.).

Meet three of our growing preemie girls. Elizabeth (1.6 kg/ 3.5 lb.) arrived at Baby Watoto after her mother and twin sibling died in child birth. Jane (1.6 kg/ 3.5 lb.) and Cally (1.06 kg/2.3 lb.) were both born and abandoned in a local hospital before they joined the Baby Watoto family.

MARCH

Baby Ivan

Baby Ivan lost his parents when he was barely 4 months old due to HIV related illnesses. Baby Watoto picked him up from a hospital close to Gulu where he had been admitted for severe malnutrition and other medical complications.

When Ivan arrived at Baby Watoto he received the urgent medical care and nutritional rehabilitation that he needed.

He has since gained weight and is now a very healthy toddlerwho loves to eat!

APRIL

Special Care NurseryTwo of our nurses care for the tiniest babies in our Special Care Nursery.

This room is equipped with incubators, open warmers, oxygen, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines, IV pumps and phototherapy to assist in relieving respiratory depression.

It typically provides care for 4 - 8 premature or medically fragile infants at one time.

MAY

Cute QuadsThese itsy bitsy quadruplet boys arrived at Baby Watoto at five days old. Their mother died in child birth and the local hospital was struggling to provide adequate care and food for the infants.

Sadly, one of the boys passed away shortly after their arrival at Baby Watoto, but the other three are doing well and have recently graduated out of their incubators.

JUNE

JULY

Many of our babies arrive suffering from severe malnutrition. There are two types prevalent in Uganda.

Marasmus is caused by a lack of calorie intake and characterised by severe weight loss. Kwashiorkor is caused by an extremely low protein diet and is characterised by a buildup of edema (swelling caused by fluid retention) in the body.

Immediate medical intervention and specialty feeds are vital in the rehabilitation of these babies. While the first few days are touch and go, most babies respond quickly to treatment and become healthy, chubby and barely recognisable within a few weeks.

Baby Hope is a good example of this. She arrived suffering from severe Marasmus malnutrition. In our care, she has blossomed and is now a happy, healthy toddler in Watoto’s Bbira Village.

Baby Hope

BEFORE AFTER

AUGUST

When a baby arrives at Baby Watoto, they are paired with a primary caregiver, a nanny, who ensures that their day-to-day physical, social and emotional needs are met.

One of the essential components of our care is that a baby develops a primary attachment to his/her caregiver. This attachment allows the infant to form the necessary skills to grow socially and intellectually, which leads to a healthy future.

Baby Care

SEPTEMBER

A good samaritan found Nancy Grace abandoned by the road oppposite one of the Baby Watoto facilities and took her to a nearby police station.

She was found with a bible and letter. In it, her mother wrote that she was extremely ill and thought she wouldn’t survive much longer. She expressed her love for Nancy Grace and concern for her well-being.

All efforts to locate Nancy’s mother have proved futile. Although her story is a sad one, we are honoured that we have been able to provide Nancy with the love and care her mother hoped for.

Nancy Grace

OCTOBER

At Watoto, we are always excited at the possibility of resettling an abandoned child with any existing family that can care for them.

Recently Baby Robinson was sent to us by a government social worker when his aunt was unable to provide adequately for him. His mother died when he was one-month-old. When he arrived at Baby Watoto, eight days after his first birthday, he weighed only 4.5 kg (10lbs). We began urgent medical care and, after discussions with his aunt, realised that her decision to abandon him was due to poverty and a lack of education.

After just two weeks, Baby Robinson is looking much better. With greater knowledge and basic support, we are confident that his aunt will be able to provide him with the care he needs. We have connected Robinson’s family to a malnutrition centre closer to their home village for further management and follow up.

Preventing Abandonment

NOVEMBERWelcome Home

Baby Watoto has three facilities within Uganda that care for orphaned and vulnerable babies. In October alone, we welcomed 22 precious babies from dire circumstances, with the youngest being 14 days old and the oldest toddler being 4 ½ years old.

On any given day, we change approximately 1,440 diapers, fill 1,200 bottles and wash 720 outfits.

We receive up to 45 premature babies a year. Some of these babies suffer from fat or protein malabsorption (inability to absorb nutrients from food) due to prematurity or other health complications.

Thanks to your support, we’re able to take care of these precious babies.

DECEMBERMerry Christmas

May peace, cheer, joy and love be your gift at Christmas and your blessing in 2014.

Thank you for your faithful partnership with Baby Watoto.

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