In 2019, Agitah and Frank from Ogelbeng in the Western Highlands Province welcomed their second child, Miracle Frank. Born prematurely at just 34 weeks and weighing only 1 kg, Agitah was filled with fear, convinced that her baby would not survive. “She was so tiny when she was born. I didn’t think she would make it,” she recalled.
Against all odds, hope came in the form of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), a life-saving method introduced in Papua New Guinea by UNICEF in 2018. Initially unsure about this technique, Agitah spent three months in Mt. Hagen Provincial Hospital before fully embracing it. Once she began holding her fragile daughter against her chest each day, Miracle started to recover. Her weight increased to 1.7 kg, and she was soon discharged from the hospital.
Agitah expressed her gratitude to the nursing and medical staff of the Nursery Ward for their help in saving her baby through the KMC method. KMC involves skin-to-skin contact between a parent and a preterm baby, providing warmth, protection against infection, and strengthening emotional bonds. This gentle approach has significantly reduced infant mortality rates.
Monica Poasa, the Health Extension Officer leading the KMC program, stated, “Our death rates in 2018 were 25.6%, but after the intervention, they dropped to 12%, and we are seeing results. Thus, we will continue to encourage KMC with support from the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority (WHPHA).”
Nursery Boss Salom Minar emphasized the importance of parental commitment to the success of KMC, saying, “We teach them, but they carry it forward. Their commitment matters most.” Nurses Herica Pupu and Glangi added, “We provide more than KMC; we also educate mothers on hygiene practices and newborn care. Their commitment completes the circle.”
The nursery staff thanked WHPHA for providing critical KMC kits and ongoing support, which have contributed to improving and saving more lives.
Now a healthy six-year-old thriving in preschool, Miracle is described as active, obedient, and a fast learner. She is a living testament to how early intervention, dedicated medical care, and parental love can defy the odds. As her name suggests, Miracle truly is a miracle.
