Dar es Salaam. At 5, Aug. 16 -- 00 am every morning, Ms Mariam Mwakabungu begins a long commute from her home in Chanika to Amana Referral Hospital, where vulnerable newborn babies rely on her care.

The daily journey requires riding a motorcycle taxi (boda boda) to the bus terminal, followed by a commuter bus (daladala) to reach the facility.

Despite the financial and logistical strain, Ms Mwakabungu says her deep passion for the job keeps her motivated.

Known fondly around the hospital as 'Mama Kangaroo,' Ms Mwakabungu provides vital care for underweight newborns using the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method, a skin-to-skin contact technique that maintains body temperature, particularly for infants whose biological mothers are criticall...