The US-based Angel Care Foundation has launched its newborn blanket initiative in Sierra Leone to support early infant care, promote maternal health education and improve the well-being of mothers and newborns.
The launch took place on October 22, 2026, at New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, bringing together government officials, healthcare providers, diplomatic missions, businesses and development partners to explore opportunities for collaboration in maternal and newborn care.
Operating under the theme, “One Blanket. One Baby. One Message of Unity,” the Angel Blanket Initiative aims to distribute one million blankets to newborns across Africa over five years, combining essential newborn supplies with educational materials to help families understand newborn care, recognise danger signs and improve postnatal care for mothers.
Founded in 2020 by Dr. Olivia Tchanque, the Angel Care Foundation works in community health, water and sanitation, education and humanitarian assistance. Sierra Leone is the second country to host the initiative, following its launch in Accra, Ghana, on June 25, 2026. Liberia is expected to follow as part of the foundation’s expansion plans.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Tchanque shared the personal experiences that inspired her to establish the foundation, tracing her commitment to maternal and newborn care to her childhood in Tumala, Cameroon.
She recalled an incident in which a nurse refused to allow her mother to hold her newborn sibling because of a lack of resources. The experience left a lasting impression on her and shaped her belief that no mother should be denied the opportunity to care for her child because of a basic necessity.
After moving to the United States and becoming a pharmacist, Dr. Tchanque experienced the reassurance of receiving her own newborn wrapped in a hospital blanket. She said the experience helped her appreciate the importance of simple acts of care and the need to ensure that every mother and child is treated with dignity and compassion.
Through the foundation, she has supported vulnerable families with services including free breakfasts, counselling, school supplies and holiday assistance, while creating spaces where people can access support and feel heard.
Dr. Tchanque explained that the blanket represents more than a practical item, describing it as a symbol of protection, dignity, unity and recognition for mothers and their newborns.
She said the initiative seeks to combine material support with health education, ensuring families receive both the comfort of a blanket and useful information to help them care for their babies during the critical period after birth.
Under the programme, mothers and their newborns will receive 100 per cent cotton blankets upon discharge from participating health facilities. The accompanying educational materials are intended to help families identify potential complications after birth and understand essential newborn and postnatal care practices.
The foundation has already partnered with hospitals in Ghana, where more than 2,030 blankets have reportedly been distributed to mothers and newborns.
Delivering the keynote remarks, Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of supporting mothers during the vulnerable period following childbirth.
She emphasised that maternal and newborn care should extend beyond the delivery room, noting that practical assistance and health education can make a meaningful difference in the lives of families.
Dr. Mustapha also stressed that relatively simple interventions can contribute to better health outcomes while helping mothers feel valued, respected and supported as they adjust to caring for their newborns.
She welcomed the foundation’s collaboration with the government and expressed the Ministry’s willingness to support initiatives that improve the well-being of mothers and children in Sierra Leone.
Deputy Minister of Finance Hon. Kadiatu Allie also commended the initiative, noting that a newborn’s arrival represents hope and the promise of a better future.
She said every child deserves to begin life with warmth, comfort, dignity and love, regardless of the economic circumstances of their family.
Hon. Allie observed that national development should not be measured solely by economic growth, infrastructure and financial indicators, but also by how society cares for vulnerable people, particularly mothers and children.
She further highlighted the importance of partnerships involving government, charitable organisations, businesses and individuals in complementing national efforts to improve social welfare.
The Deputy Minister expressed hope that the initiative would expand beyond major hospitals to reach vulnerable families in smaller communities across the country, ensuring that more mothers and newborns benefit from the programme.
Following the launch, the Angel Care Foundation delegation visited King Harman Road Maternal and Children’s Hospital and Ola During Children’s Hospital, including the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), where blankets were donated to support newborn care.
King Harman Road Maternal and Children’s Hospital received 175 blankets, while Ola During Children’s Hospital and PCMH received a combined total of 150 blankets.
The donations marked the start of the initiative’s practical implementation in Sierra Leone, with the foundation seeking to work alongside health facilities and other partners to strengthen maternal and newborn support.
Through the five-year programme, the Angel Care Foundation hopes to extend its reach across Africa, ensuring that simple but meaningful interventions are accompanied by education and community partnerships to promote healthier beginnings for mothers and their children.
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