The founder of the Angel Care foundation, Dr Olivia Tchanque, has revealed that a childhood experience witnessing her mother's childbirth in Cameroon inspired her mission to ensure newborns across Africa receive a blanket at birth as a symbol of love, dignity and care.

Speaking to journalists after the launch of the initiative at The Pelican Hotel, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana, Dr Tchanque, a Cameroonian who lives in the United States, said the foundation's blanket project was born from a deeply personal experience that remained with her from her teenage years.

She recounted that after her mother gave birth, a nurse asked her to provide baby clothes and a blanket. Having nothing to offer, the nurse initially refused to return the newborn to her mother because there was nothing to wrap the baby in.

"I ran into the ward and asked another mother, whom I did not know, if she had any clothes she could share," she said. 

"She immediately gave me clothes, which I took to the nurse, and the baby was finally brought back to my mom."

Dr Tchanque said the incident moved her deeply and remained with her for years.

Her resolve to act was strengthened in 2009 when she gave birth to her own child in the United States. She said she was surprised when a nurse returned with her newborn wrapped in a blanket, despite the fact that she had arrived at the maternity ward without bringing one.

"I was shocked and I felt there was a call somewhere. I need to do something for Africa," she said.

According to Dr Tchanque, every newborn deserves to begin life with love and dignity.

"The beginning of life matters. Every newborn deserves love. This is how we are shaping a new future and a new generation to come," she stated.

She explained that the foundation aims to provide every newborn in Africa with a blanket, beginning with Ghana. The organisation hopes to partner hospitals across the country during its first year and distribute one million blankets across Africa within the next five years.

Dr Tchanque said hospitals partnering with the foundation would keep blankets in stock so that every baby born there receives one immediately after delivery, regardless of background. Mothers will also receive postnatal guidance to help them care for their babies after leaving the hospital.

She stressed that the initiative is intended to reach every part of Ghana, including rural communities.

"No one will be left alone," she said, adding that the foundation plans to extend its outreach to northern Ghana following the Thursday, June 25 launch.

Explaining the design of the blanket, Dr Tchanque said it was the result of years of thought and several revisions before she settled on its current appearance.

She said the red, green and yellow colours were chosen after multiple design changes, without initially realising they reflected the Pan-African colours. It was only later, after attending an event where Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama spoke and subsequently reading about Africa's history, that she recognised the significance of the colours.

According to her, the blanket represents unity, love and hope for Africa's future.

"The whole idea of this blanket is to show love. It is given to every child with dignity to show that someone cares for them," she said.

She also explained the meaning behind the name Angel Care.

"We are all children of God. We are all angels of God and our babies are angels of God. They deserve love and care," she said.

Dr Tchanque noted that Ghana became the launch country for the initiative after President Mahama invited her to bring the project to the country and assured her of support.

She described the decision as "not a calculated decision" but rather "a convergence," saying Ghana opened its doors to the foundation's vision of giving every African child a loving start to life.