Friend’s members attending the recently held Region 4 Annual Conference were captivated by a special presentation from Guest Speaker Lisa Werner who spoke about her incredible and moving journey after her son Adam was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Approximately 10% of the yearly admissions to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH), Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

“Data collected in NICU for the year 2020 shows 69% of Aboriginal neonates received breastmilk as their first feed, with the number significantly dropping to 36% of infants receiving some breastmilk at discharge. Providing breast pumps to these families within the NICU is seen as a valuable resource that will assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with their journey through NICU and expressing for their babies. Breast milk provides a significantly lower risk of sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis and shows better growth and development of premature neonates, it really does provide the best start for these already vulnerable infants.

Members of The Friends of Women’s and Children’s Hospital Inc (Friends) Region 6 Auxiliaries Division, recently held their 58th Annual Conference at Ruston’s Restaurant & Functions in Renmark. The region comprises of the Renmark and Berri Auxiliaries with 25 active members who have raised $202,840 for the hospital over 60 years of fund raising.

As another financial year closes, the WCH and Friends thank our amazing members around the state that support the hospital in so many ways. This video demonstrates the level of support provided to all South Australian by Friends every year.