The United States of America-based foundation called “Prospect in Mummy Tummy (PIMT) International” was Saturday launched in The Gambia at a ceremony held at the Paradise Suites Hotel.
The organization was founded by Sarah Musa, a US citizen with a Sierra Leonean background, and currently a senior nursing student at the James Madison University in Harrisonburg in Virgina, USA.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, about the foundation’s commitment and activities in the United States and Africa, Sarah Musa, president of PIMT, said PIMT International is a non-profit organization registered in Virginia, USA, and The Gambia.
According to Musa, the organization was geared towards improving the life and status of children on a sustainable basis.
“We show our love to babies by providing them with baskets containing all the essential items babies need upon delivery,” she said.
These items, donated to the pregnant women, would also encourage them to go to the hospitals for delivery, she added.
“Our organization, which has a 501 C3 Tax exempt status, is providing assistance to pregnant women or mothers for their newly-born babies,” she stated.
“PIMT International shows its love to newly-born babies by providing them with the necessary and essential items needed on their first day of birth.”
The items delivered to pregnant women include soap, baby oil, lotion, bib, wash cloth, baby clothes, baby cap, baby boots, comb and brush, blanket, diapers, diaper wipes, verseline, feeding bottle, towel, cotton ball, thermometer, medicine and cup.
According to her, she is currently a nursing student at the university, and her aim was to pursue her career in the labour and delivery field because of the excitement that comes with having a child.
“In May 2014, I decided to start PIMT International through the assistance and financial support from my mother, to help provide assistance to mothers and their newly-born babies,” she said.
On 10 May 2015, they provided ‘21 baskets of love’ to the nursery department of Howard University Hospital in the Washington, district of Colombia, she said.
A total of 129 baskets of love has already been given out in the United States of America, she said, adding that they have shipped out 270 baskets of love to Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
“We have registered our organization in The Gambia and already have an office in Bakoteh,” she disclosed.
According to her, the foundation has shipped out a total of 200 school bags containing school supplies such as whiteboards, dry erase markers, activity books, play-dough, educational flashcards, erasers, sharpeners, pens, pencils, rulers, notebooks, reading books among others that would assist children in the Ebola-affected countries.
Her parents have undertaken all these financial expenses, she said.
“I am kindly asking for your support in any way to help us contribute to improving the health status of the babies, as well as provide assistance to the expectant mothers,” she noted.
This, she said, would go a long way in reducing the high infant mortality rates prevalent, especially in developing countries.
Sarah added that PIMT International plans to give out 400 to 500 baskets of love per year to pregnant women and mothers in the US, as well as in some countries in Africa.
“We cannot do it alone and need your support in helping out newly born babies who have so much potential and are our future leaders,” she said.
Jestina Musa, mother of Sarah Musa, expressed delight at introducing the president and founder of PIMT on the launching of the foundation.
Sarah Musa was born in Germany in November 1993 and she started her elementary education in Sierra Leone and relocated to the USA, where she completed her elementary and secondary education.
Mrs Musa described her daughter as very intelligent, well organised and could balance her schoolwork with extracurricular activities.
Speakers on the occasion included Rohey Jammeh, representing Chief Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health, and Aja Jallow, a representative of S/K hospital, who all expressed appreciation about the initiative.
They commended the founder of the organisation for contributing her quota towards the improvement of the health sector, and encouraged her to continue the good work.
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