Woolgoolga Lions’ Jean Hickory and Joy O’Shea (front, centre) and John Moon and Mike Mellefont (in the yellow Lions shirts) proudly display some of the equipment donated by their club to Coffs Harbour Health Campus’ postnatal service. With them are grateful midwives (left) Jennifer Darby, Midwifery Group Practice manager Connie Greenwood, Maternity Unit Manager Tania Andrews and Jac Hill-Smith.

Woopi Lions make life easier for new mums

Apr 07, 2022

Woolgoolga Lions Club has funded everything from vital signs monitors to mobility aids, from cancer equipment to a defibrillator and bladder scanner but their latest donation to Coffs Harbour Health Campus is destined to help region’s youngest and most vulnerable… newborn babies.

The amazing hard-working Lions have presented $20,493.06 worth of equipment to the hospital’s postnatal service, where midwives visit mums and bubs at home.

The donation included two jaundice meters, two breast pumps and two opthalmoscopes, which are used to detect congenital cataracts and other abnormalities.

Midwifery Group Practice manager Connie Greenwood said the donation was a gamechanger for the service, which provides continuity of care to women by the same midwife – from early pregnancy, throughout labour, until the baby is six weeks old.

“This is a wonderfully generous gift that supports our service, supports our mothers and their babies,” Ms Greenwood said.

“The jaundice meters enable us to screen newborns in their home for jaundice and accelerate care and treatment of what can be a serious health issue if not detected.

“The ophthalmoscopes vastly improve outcomes for bubs through early identification of potential concerns.

“The portable breast pumps are helping mums who have had a premature baby through the early days and weeks of their breastfeeding experiences. Being able to access this up-to-date equipment means these newborns are still able to benefit from breast milk and the antibodies it contains that help fight off viruses and infection.

“This is a significant donation from the Woolgoolga Lions and we are enormously grateful for the difference it makes to our service. To be a new mother and have this high-level equipment available in the home – especially with toddlers in the family or during adverse weather – is just wonderful.”

Club president Ray Webb said the donation was only possible because of the hard work of club members and the support the club received from the Woolgoolga community.