Tips, the Cana Movement’s support group for parents with premature babies, this morning donated €70,000 worth of equipment to Mater Dei Hospital’s intensive care unit for babies.
Tips, that stands for Tiny Infant Parents Support, handed over the equipment to staff at the Neonatal Paediatric Intensive Care Unit that cares for 12 to 25 babies at any one time.
The equipment consisted of a machine that helps premature babies breathe, a monitor that keeps track of ventilation and oxygenation, a machine that measures heart rate, respiration, oxygenation and temperature as well as other equipment.
Janice Buttigieg and Louise Farrugia, who were founders of the support group, also donated tiny baby clothes purposely designed for premature babies.
They thanked Dr Edwin Mintoff, who was present, for helping them collect money through his participation in marathons.
Paediatricians Paul Solar and Simon Attard Montalto thanked Tips for their invaluable support, which included sponsoring specialised training for nurses.
Fr Joseph Mizzi, director of the Cana Movement, praised the collaboration between the voluntary organisation and the hospital. He said it was estimated that Tips had donated almost €500,000 in equipment and sponsorships since it was set up 15 years ago.