The Angel Care Foundation, a United States-based philanthropic organisation, is set to officially launch its Angel Blanket Initiative in Sierra Leone on Thursday, 22 October 2026, as part of its broader commitment to improving maternal and newborn wellbeing across Africa.
The official launching ceremony, scheduled to take place at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown at 10:00 a.m., is expected to attract representatives from Government institutions, healthcare facilities, diplomatic missions, private sector organisations and development partners to discuss opportunities for collaboration and the successful implementation of the initiative in Sierra Leone.
Established in 2020 by Dr. Olivia Tchanque, the Angel Care Foundation is a humanitarian organisation dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable individuals and communities through interventions in healthcare, education, water and sanitation, and humanitarian assistance.
Through its flagship Angel Blanket Initiative, the Foundation has set an ambitious target of distributing one million blankets to newborn babies across Africa within five years. The programme seeks to provide essential warmth and comfort to newborns while promoting maternal health education and raising awareness about the importance of proper postnatal care.
Sierra Leone will become the second African country to benefit from the initiative, following its successful launch in Accra, Ghana, on 25 June 2026. The expansion into Sierra Leone represents another important step towards achieving the Foundation’s continental objective of supporting mothers and newborn babies, particularly those in vulnerable communities.
Under the initiative, mothers will receive soft blankets made from 100 per cent cotton for their newborn babies upon discharge from participating healthcare facilities. Beyond providing physical comfort and protection, the programme will incorporate educational materials designed to equip mothers and caregivers with essential information on newborn care, the identification of danger signs and the importance of seeking timely postnatal healthcare services.
The Foundation believes that providing newborn babies with warmth, dignity and appropriate care during their earliest days can contribute to improved maternal and child wellbeing while encouraging families to adopt healthier childcare practices.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen awareness of maternal and newborn health challenges by working closely with healthcare professionals and institutions responsible for providing maternity and postnatal services.
The forthcoming launch in Freetown is expected to provide an opportunity for the Angel Care Foundation to establish strategic partnerships with local institutions, healthcare providers, businesses and humanitarian organisations to facilitate the effective distribution of blankets and the delivery of health education to mothers across participating communities.
As part of preparations for the programme, the Foundation is encouraging interested organisations and development partners to support the initiative through financial contributions, medical partnerships, logistical assistance, supplies, communication services and other forms of institutional collaboration.
Such partnerships are expected to play an important role in ensuring that the initiative reaches mothers and newborn babies who need additional support, particularly in communities where access to essential maternal and child healthcare services remains a challenge.
Although the Foundation has outlined its broader continental target of distributing one million blankets, specific distribution figures for Sierra Leone and the healthcare facilities that will participate in the programme are expected to be determined through consultations with local implementation partners.
The Angel Care Foundation hopes that the initiative will not only provide practical assistance to mothers and newborn babies but also encourage greater cooperation among stakeholders working to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
With the theme “One Blanket. One Baby. One Message of Unity,” the Angel Blanket Initiative seeks to demonstrate how a simple humanitarian gesture can promote compassion, solidarity and collective responsibility towards protecting newborn babies and supporting mothers.
The official launch on 22 October 2026 is therefore expected to mark the beginning of a new humanitarian partnership aimed at strengthening newborn care, promoting maternal health awareness and extending practical support to families across Sierra Leone.
