Paarl Hospital Community Project

Fabric Scrap Bears

Paarl Hospital is a government hospital located in the Drakenstein Municipality District.  The Paediatric unit consists of a Paediatric ward with 48 beds and a neonatal ward with 20 beds.  

The neonatal unit cares for many premature babies and other newborn babies that require medical care.  Paarl hospital has about 500 births per month.  About 90 of these babies would require medical treatment with a discharge rate of about 2-3 babies per day from the neonatal unit.  Averaging at 75 babies per month.

About 17% of babies born at Paarl have a low birth weight with many premature babies seen in the neonatal ward.  Some premature babies born at less than 1000g will stay in hospital for up to 3 months before discharge.

  Paarl hospital provides services for public sector with mostly a low income population.  Many of the mothers face poor circumstances, with numerous psychosocial challenges at home and in the community.  

We at Pickalilly want to try and ensure that every baby, no matter what circumstances he/she is going in to, has something to get comfort from and cuddle. So we will be making fabric scrap bears for the babies that get released from the neonatal unit at Paarl Hospital. We want to invite you to join us in making these bears from fabric scraps and help to provide joy and comfort to little ones.

You can download the free PDF pattern and tutorial attached. Please feel free to pass it on to anyone willing to help.

Bears can be dropped off or couriered to Pickalilly Kids at Unit 1 Penta Centre, 17 Pasita Street, Rosenpark, Durbanville, 7530. Contact us at [email protected]