Incubators Mean Life!
For more than twenty years, Gleaning For The World has partnered with Dr. Yaw, a trusted distribution partner whose deep commitment to his home country of Ghana continues to impact churches, schools, hospitals, and rural communities across the nation.
Throughout the year, Dr. Yaw visits Concord, Virginia to plan and prepare the contents of multiple international shipping containers. Together, we work steadily to send clothing, shoes, personal care items, children’s books, school supplies, eyeglasses, medical equipment, sewing machines, computers, and other essential goods to those who need them most.
Recently, Dr. Yaw came to us with a special request. His sister was asking for help securing an infant incubator for a rural hospital. In all the years he has been shipping containers to Ghana, she had never asked for anything. This request was different. It was urgent. It was critical.
We immediately began searching for a certified refurbished incubator that could be shipped in time to meet the departure schedule of one of the containers. At first, it appeared we had found a solution. A nearby business offered to demonstrate their equipment, and we were hopeful. However, when we attempted to schedule the visit, communication suddenly stopped. The opportunity fell through. Although disappointing, we knew it was more important to secure the right equipment than to rush into something uncertain. The last thing we wanted was to send medical equipment that might fail after installation.
While continuing our research, we discovered a nonprofit organization that designs and produces high quality, low cost infant incubators specifically for developing countries. After speaking with their team, we knew this was the right solution. The incubator was built to be durable, reliable, and sustainable in environments where resources are limited. A unit was then constructed and shipped with Dr. Yaw’s container to Ghana.
When the incubator arrived at the rural hospital, the response was overwhelming. Hospital administrators shared that they previously had no incubator of their own. Families in need of neonatal critical care were often turned away because the hospital lacked the necessary equipment. On the very day the new incubator arrived, three families were facing that exact situation. Instead of being referred elsewhere, those babies were able to receive care immediately. As the hospital administrator accepted the gift, he said simply, “Incubators mean life.”
Those words capture the heart of why Gleaning For The World exists. Whether distributing clothing, school supplies, medical equipment, or blankets, our mission remains the same: to bring hope, restore dignity, meet practical needs, and protect life. This life-saving incubator was made possible through the generosity of our donors and partners. Because of your support, a rural hospital now has the ability to care for its most vulnerable patients.
Our plan is to purchase and ship a second incubator to this same hospital this year, ensuring even more families receive the care they need close to home.
Below you can view a video of Dr. Yaw presenting the incubator to the hospital staff in Ghana:
If you would like to help provide additional life-saving equipment or support Gleaning’s international outreach efforts, please visit our Ways To Give page to learn more or make a donation.
In service and partnership,
