Several students at the Ann Latsky Nursing College in Johannesburg have decided to make a special baby changing station for a local clinic.
Neo Serwallo said that they had to identify a problem at a hospital or clinic and solve that problem as part of a project.
Neo, Zama Gqaka and Kefilwe Madondo are all second-year students at this college and decided to do their project at the ML Pessen Clinic in the Randfontein CBD, because they are all Randfonteiners.
“Hospitals and clinics all over South Africa have a problem with baby changing stations as well as a shortage of hospital gowns. We are going to make a designated baby changing station and organise gowns for a clinic in our home town, because we want to make a difference in our community,” he said.
According to Zama, mothers have to change their baby’s diapers on a stretcher in the clinic’s reception area at the moment.
“Mothers need a private place to change their baby’s diapers. The same stretcher that is used as a makeshift changing station might later be used for a patient which means it is not a permanent solution,” she said.
Kefilwe said that they are busy gathering equipment to make the baby changing station.
“We are going to use wood to build the station and then we are going to paint it and decorate it. We will also put up a curtain for privacy. We have already started, but the community is welcome to jump in and help us make this clinic better for everyone,” Kefilwe said.
She added that a lot of pregnant mothers come to this clinic for check-ups and have to undress completely when being examined. They want to provide the clinic with gowns so that the women don’t have to feel exposed.
