Birthing Kits - providing a clean and safe birth

Ruth Kennedy, from Abraham’s Oasis thanks you for your donations of help.

When the kits were initially sent in 2008 Ruth wrote  “ We are so remote here that each kit is more precious than any gold or money, as these items cannot be bought with either as the contents are simply not available! Bless you, bless you all for sending these to us”

The kits had proven to be invaluable. More women and babies were surviving childbirth.

However, Ruth was so remote that she could not easily get regular supplies of the finished kits, made in Australia, without days of traveling and much expense as she had  go to Addis Ababa to collect them.  To help solve this problem the BKFA then worked with Ruth in establishing a local birthing kit production program.

We thank you for your donations which have enabled  the Birthing Kit Foundation (Australia) to provide the funds for Ruth to make her own birthing kits, sourcing the supplies and paying nominal wages to local women to help assemble the kits. These women had health issues and would not normally have been employable. These supplies are sourced in the city.

Ruth has just completed making 2000 birthing kits locally. The first stage  towards sustainability. The program was so successful another one is planned for this year. The demand is for 10,000 kits annually.

“We are grateful but even more so those who have no voice say thank you, the indigent farmer’s wife, the brand new mother of 14 or 15 years of age…. the children who have survived, the gratitude of having a mother… This we write from Abraham’s Oasis where fifty children live many orphaned because there was no one to help “Mum”. “  Ruth Kennedy

Links:

• A segment on national TV in Australia on a news program
• A short movie on the project
• A successful assembly day making 5000 kits