Founder and Executive Director of the African Foundation for Premature Babies and Neonatal Care (AFPNC), Selina Bentoom, has been recognised for her work supporting premature babies and their families in Ghana and across Africa.

Bentoom received the Community Development Award at the 2026 Forty Under 40 Ghana Awards on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra.

Her recognition comes after years of advocacy and support for families who often face medical, emotional and financial challenges following the birth of a premature baby.

Bentoom’s work with premature babies was inspired by her own experience in 2015 when she gave birth to a baby boy weighing 1.4kg.

Her son spent time in and out of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital before eventually surviving.

The experience prompted Bentoom to research the challenges facing premature babies and their families and, in October 2015, she established AFPNC to advocate for better care and support for newborns and their families.

Since then, the organisation has worked with parents, healthcare professionals, researchers and other stakeholders to raise awareness of the needs of preterm babies and improve support for their families.

One of its initiatives, the Purple Basket Project, provides essential items and support to mothers of premature babies, particularly those who struggle to afford basic supplies.

The initiative seeks to provide practical assistance to families at a time when they may also be dealing with the emotional and financial pressures associated with caring for a premature baby.

AFPNC also advocates for improved neonatal care and greater attention to the needs of premature and newborn babies.

For Bentoom, the recognition at the Forty Under 40 Awards highlights an area of community work that began with a personal experience but has since focused on supporting other families going through similar challenges.

The 2026 awards, held as the 10th edition of the Forty Under 40 Ghana Awards, recognised young professionals and individuals for their contributions across various sectors.