**Oti Mabuse’s Emotional Journey to Cote d’Ivoire Highlights Need for Neonatal Care**
Former *Strictly Come Dancing* star Oti Mabuse has spoken candidly of her emotional journey to Cote d’Ivoire, where she visited a neonatal care unit supported by Unicef. As part of the charity’s efforts to raise funds through Soccer Aid, Mabuse’s visit aimed to shine a spotlight on the struggles faced by mothers of premature babies—a cause that resonates deeply with her own experience.
The 34-year-old dancer travelled to Abidjan, the country’s commercial capital, where she observed the life-saving work being carried out at a specialist neonatal unit. The facility is funded by donations to Unicef, which in turn benefit from the annual Soccer Aid event. Mabuse’s trip took on special significance: her own daughter, born with her husband Marius Iepure in 2023, arrived ten weeks early.
Reflecting on the parallels between her life and those of the mothers she met, Mabuse explained how the visit starkly reminded her of her own ordeal. ‘Seeing what mothers and newborns go through in Cote d’Ivoire brought so many memories rushing back,’ she said. ‘Having experienced the fear and emotional turmoil that comes with premature birth, I know how crucial specialised support is.’
During her time at the unit, Mabuse encountered women such as Ouattara—whose own journey included both tragedy and hope. Ouattara’s first baby passed away, unable to access the medical resources required for survival. Her second child, Abdul, was also born prematurely but thanks to the care he received at the unit, he and his mother spent three weeks together building a foundation for a healthier future.
The Unicef neonatal programme includes what is known as Kangaroo Mother Care: a method that encourages skin-to-skin contact between parent and baby. Research cited by Unicef demonstrates that this practice significantly improves survival rates for premature infants. Mabuse, recalling her personal experience of being separated by a glass window in the neonatal intensive care unit, described how powerful and transformative such care can be.
Speaking to the transformative impact of charity, Mabuse also highlighted the efforts of caregivers like Madame Massandje, a foster carer who is helping change lives, one child at a time. ‘Meeting these individuals, and witnessing the compassion and resilience on display, truly illustrates the essential role that donations play,’ she noted. ‘It reaffirms why initiatives like Soccer Aid are so vital in ensuring every child has the opportunity for a healthy, safe start in life.’
The need remains urgent. According to Unicef statistics, around 4.8 million children globally died before their fifth birthday in 2024 alone, with 2.3 million of those being newborns not surviving past their first month. In Cote d’Ivoire, access to appropriate neonatal care remains a persistent challenge, especially for those families affected by premature births.
Mabuse’s journey has been documented in a Unicef appeal film, which is scheduled to air during this year’s Soccer Aid broadcast on 15 June across ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player. The event is expected to draw further attention to the urgent need for funding and awareness, as every donation made to Soccer Aid for Unicef will be matched by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, up to a £5 million limit.
For those moved by the issues highlighted, donations can be made by visiting socceraid.org.uk/donate. The hope is that, through greater awareness and continued generosity, more mothers and newborns will have access to the care and support that transformed Mabuse’s own family—and the families she met in Cote d’Ivoire.