Maui Electric and American Savings Bank support infant care at Maui Memorial Medical Center

KAHULUI, HAWAII – Maui Electric Company and American Savings Bank presented Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation (MMMCF) with a donation of $44,000 to purchase crucial safety equipment for the care of newborn infants. The Panda Infant Warmers will provide vital, state-of-the-art support for the safety and health of every single baby born at the hospital.

“We are so grateful for this generous grant,” said Lisa Varde, MMMCF executive director. “With 1,800 babies being born at Maui Memorial Medical Center every year, these two infant warmers will help keep our newborns safe and warm on a daily basis. During this time of transition for the hospital, the support of our community is needed now more than ever. We thank Hawaiian Electric Industries, Maui Electric Company and American Savings Bank for taking a leadership role in supporting Maui County’s only acute-care hospital.”

The donated funds will help to purchase two Panda Infant Warmers valued at $22,000 each. 

“On behalf of our Maui Electric ‘ohana we want to thank the staff at the Maui Memorial Medical Center for providing vital health services to our entire community from keiki to kūpuna,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui Electric. “Working together, we’re delighted to be able to gift this welcoming and warm haven for the hospital’s youngest patients.”

As newborns can easily become cold, the warming units are available for all deliveries to help prevent hypothermia. During early or difficult deliveries, the warmer becomes an absolute vital necessity. With the new warmers, physicians can deliver oxygen and apply resuscitation procedures as needed while the baby remains in the warmer.

“American Savings Bank recognizes the critical role Maui Memorial Medical Center plays in caring for the local community,” said Richard Wacker, ASB president and CEO. “We’re honored to support their efforts to provide state-of-the-art care for every newborn.”

Maui Memorial Medical Center serves 160,000 residents and 2 million visitors each year regardless of their ability to pay. Last year, the hospital treated 60,000 patients – close to 40 percent of the Maui County population. Over 1,700 babies were delivered and 5,000 procedures were performed in the operating room. With a growing population, the hospital says it will see a 30 percent increase in the number of patients seen over the next few years.