$700 can save a mother’s and baby’s life
In neighbouring PNG – “five women die in childbirth every day”. Only one intervention has been shown to reduce or prevent maternal deaths in similar circumstances such as in PNG namely: Encourage mothers to have a supervised delivery
Simply, women continue to die in numbers every day, of every week, on the doorstep of Australia – and the Lions of Australia can do something about it!
Bush Huts – it has been identified that mothers can walk 30/40 miles to the health centre, then are turned away as not “term”, then later die from blood loss beside a track in the open heat and rain, trying to walk back to a supervised delivery. Often the baby dies as well. What has proven successful is the provision of bush huts beside the health centres allowing mothers to stay in a culturally acceptable and familiar “hut” near to supervision, pending delivery. These need to be locally made and can be provided at about $700 AUD.
Baby Bundles – What has been successfully trialled in remote areas where mothers are poor, very shy and do not understand the need for supervision in birthing, is the provision of an incentive to attend the health centre for birth, via a “baby bundle” with some basic needs for both mother and baby in a baby bath. These cost 50-60 kina or about $25 AUD.
Direct Donations can be made to Lions Club of Epping Eastwood Inc.
BSB: 082 204 Account: 509272770 Reference: PNG – Surname
Then, please email us with your name and email, so we can send you a thank you and a receipt. For your receipt, or inquiries, please contact our President Lynn at president@eppingeastwoodlions.org.au
This is a national Lions project, which is being led by Lions Australia’s National PNG Committee Project Officer, Gary Kenny kennymky1@optusnet.com.au
