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The IMPROVING NEONATAL CARE: EQUIPPING THE HPRC NICU project aims to provide essential medical equipment to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Prince Regent Charles Hospital (HPRC) in Bujumbura, Burundi. HPRC, built in 1949, is the largest, government funded public hospital in Bujumbura. It provides free medical services to local low-income communities and to patients within 100 km. of the city. Additionally, it receives referrals from other public hospitals that do not have a NICU. Its patients are either semi-literate or illiterate and lack the resources to pay for medical care.
In the HPRC NICU, infants require close monitoring and specialized care, often for extended periods. Unfortunately, current equipment limitations compromise the quality of care for these neonates. Equipment, including incubators, vital sign monitors, pediatric suction machines and sterilizers, is essential to ensure that the best possible care is delivered to these vulnerable newborns.
As a referral hospital, HPRC is often overwhelmed by new admissions resulting in its inability to adequately care for all patients with the current equipment limitations. The project aims to support the hospital mission to provide quality care to all patients.
The project's goal is to increase capacity in the NICU through the addition of more incubators in the newly renovated neonatal ward and to provide additional equipment to improve monitoring and overall care of premature babies. The NICU was recently renovated under a previous Rotary global grant (G2567602). This grant focused on the infrastructure, improving its environment and ensuring that the ward can support the installation of additional equipment. The official hand-over ceremony for the renovation completion will include representation from the Ministry of Health of Burundi and is scheduled for February 27, 2026.
For this equipment grant, Rotary Cadre of Technical Advisors Member Linda Obiri-yeboah advised the team on the Community Needs Assessment. She reviewed it on February 18, 2026, and stated that it aligns with Rotary's Global Grants criteria, making it a compelling case for funding. The project is now ready to move to the TRF application process as soon as the funding is fully identified.
Summary of Project Objectives:
i. Provide much needed basic medical equipment to fully outfit NICU. Acquire and install medical equipment including incubators, instrument sterilizers, examination and heat lamps and additional equipment to increase capacity and improve premature infant care.
ii. Train medical staff on the use of the new equipment. Oversee and schedule equipment use training sessions to be provided by the equipment supplier for the medical staff and the technical team to ensure optimal equipment use upon installation.
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