Expectant Mothers in West Africa Receive Newborn Kits Courtesy of TouroCOM Students
From Soap to Stocking Hats to Receiving Blankets – Supplies Sent to Support Mothers and Newborns for Hygiene, Warmth and Early Infant Care
/filters:quality(70)/prod01/channel_61/media/schools-and-colleges/tourocom/images/stories/2026/newbornkidts.jpg)
Students at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) in Middletown partnered with the global health nonprofit F.L.I.G.H.T. to assemble newborn care kits for expectant mothers in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
The initiative was part of a collaborative maternal health initiative and organized by second-year medical student Natalie Asemi, communications director for F.L.I.G.H.T. and president of the T.E.A.C.H. Review Club at TouroCOM.
“Sierra Leone continues to face one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world,” said Asemi, noting that many maternal and neonatal complications are preventable but persist due to limited access to medical supplies and healthcare resources.
Each kit contained washcloths, soap bars and other hygiene and nursing supplies for babies and mothers as well as baby clothing, teddy bears and an informational guide for new mothers
Safer Deliveries and Improved Outcomes in Underserved Settings
“These items were selected to support newborn hygiene, warmth, and comfort while also providing basic supplies to assist mothers during postpartum recovery and early infant care,” said Asemi. “They help support safer deliveries and improved newborn outcomes in underserved settings.”
F.L.I.G.H.T. Co-Founder and board member Dr. Anjan Saha delivered the kits to Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), Bonthe Government Hospital, and Kamakwie Westland Hospital in Freetown, the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. PCMH hospital secretary Jusu K. Sandy received them.
“Global health exists at the intersection of medicine and humanity,” said Asemi. “It provides an opportunity to address not only disease, but the structural barriers that sustain inequality. It was incredibly meaningful to work alongside my classmates on an initiative that supports mothers and newborns abroad.”
The initiative brought together fourteen student organizations, including the Global Health Committee, Student National Medical Association, Rural Health Club, American Medical Women’s Association, Volunteers for Service Interest Group, South Asian Medical Student Association, OB/GYN Interest Group, Reproductive Health Coalition, Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, Pets in Medicine, Black in Medicine, American Medical Association, Family Medicine Club, and the T.E.A.C.H. Review Club. The kits were delivered PCMH through Project DIAMOND, a maternal health program designed to address Sierra Leone’s high maternal mortality rates.
“This effort highlights the growing role of TouroCOM students in global health initiatives and underscores the impact of student-led service collaborations addressing health disparities worldwide,” said Asemi.
