The Humpty Dumpty Foundation and Glencore have made a difference to Emerald Hospital’s maternity, child and family health care, with the donation of much-wanted medical equipment costing more than $8000.

“It is with thanks to the generosity of donors like Glencore that the Humpty Dumpty Foundation can urgently respond to the plea from Emerald Hospital and make a real difference to hospitals and healthcare services across Australia,” foundation founder and executive chairman Paul Francis said. 

“Now more than ever, hospitals and healthcare services need Humpty’s help, and it is important we continue our critical work of providing essential and often life-saving medical equipment to metropolitan and regional areas to support our healthcare professionals.”

The Emerald donation included a $4820 jaundice detector and a $3470 Symphony breast pump and stand.

All babies are checked for jaundice (yellowing of the skin) on a daily basis.  This jaundice detector is used to help clinicians determine jaundice levels through the skin without harming the baby.  If jaundice is left untreated there is a possibility of cerebral palsy, deafness and/or brain damage.  

The breast pump will be used by lactating mothers to stimulate breast milk supply and to express extra breast milk for babies to grow appropriately.  

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Glencore Coal community relations manager Craig Strudwick said the group was proud to support the Humpty Dumpty Foundation in purchasing much-needed equipment for Emerald Hospital.

“We hope the equipment makes a difference to mothers and babies in the early years of a child’s life,” he said.

The Humpty Dumpty Foundation provides life-saving medical equipment specifically requested by 437 hospitals and health services across Australia.

To date, Humpty has raised more than $70 million and each year on average provides more than 400 pieces of medical equipment for paediatric wards, neonatal units, maternity and emergency departments.