CleanBirth - Saving Mothers and Babies in Laos

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Clean Birth Kits Tally from July: 116!

Number of kits distributed up to 116!

We still haven’t heard from 3 clinics.

Why? Noi, our on the ground tracker, says, “because of the rain made the communication more difficult.”

Makes you realize how remote these places really are when all communication ceases due to rain.

Photo: Number of kits distributed up to 116! Still haven't heard from 3 clinics. Why? Noi who has been tracking them down says, "because of the rain made the communication more difficult." Makes you realize how remote these places really are when all communication ceases due to rain.

Laos by the Numbers: IMR and MMR

mother3kids36 children die of preventable causes each day

(Save the Children)

  • The IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) is 70 per 1000
  • 60% of the population is estimated to be under 20 years of age
  • 47% under 18 – still children – just under 40% are less than 14 years of age
  • 43% of the population is unable to satisfy minimum food
  • 37.1% underweight, 40% stunted
  • 27% of children receive all eight vaccinations by age 1

2 mothers die each day (Save the Children)

  • The MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate) is 470 per 100,000 
  • 71.5% no antenatal care
  • 84.8% of pregnant women give birth at home

Lifetime risk of maternal death (WHO)

 

Shining the light of Dr. King’s words upon discrimination against children

infantbrotherToday, on this 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, I am reflecting on prejudice and it’s effect on a child’s life.

His dream should be our dream for kids worldwide:

“…I have a dream

That my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

The potential of a child should never be determined by their skin color, gender, or country of birth. But it is…everyday worldwide.  From the US to Laos.

In the world today, a child’s chance of survival and growth greatly depends on where they are born.

We must fight to ensure that every baby survives infancy, gets proper nutrition and grows to be a healthy child, goes to school and learns, and is able to reach her potential.

We must not think that poor children are different from our own, we must not stick our heads in the sand and ignore the injustice.

CleanBirth.org’s work in Laos is aimed at giving the poorest children the best chance of surviving birth.  While this is an important step, we must do more to support medical and nutritional care for children.  For example, we should train our CleanBirth Volunteers to address nutrition in their communities, where more than half of children are malnourished and suffer stunted growth.

Let’s shine the light of Dr. King’s words upon discrimination against children and become warriors in the cause of children’s rights.

 

 

Making Babies Cry in Laos

While I was in Laos, I inadvertently made a lot of little kids cry. I didn’t try to pick them up or anything but one look at my blue eyes and they started climbing on their moms…

See, that’s why we are empowering locals: insiders are much more effective than outsiders at winning trust and spreading information.

(See captions and watch the meltdown unfold)

babyscared1
#1 All is well, she hasn’t noticed me.
babyscared2
#2 Oops. She spotted me.
babyscared
#3 Comfort required. Sorry baby!

 

Half Year in Review: The Stats

janpingbookHere’s a rundown of CleanBirth.org’s numbers:

We’ve raised $17,537 to date in 2013

Spent 87% ($15,300) directly on women in Laos

The remaining 13% ($2,237) was spent on legal filings and fundraising, namely:

  1. holding a Silent Auction in New Haven  (raised $4,400)

  2. purchase and mailing of cards which we sell for donations ($2,400 to date)

We have no paid employees and have been the grateful beneficiaries of in-kind donations of: videography, photography, graphic design of cards, website design, fundraiser event venue, donations of auction items, etc…

With the $15,300 we have raised:

We have enough to purchase 2,000 Clean Birth Kits for mother in Laos.

We have funded the 2-day CleanBirth Nurses Training in June for 16 nurses

We have funded 2 upcoming Clean Birth Volunteer Trainings

We have funded part of the salaries of three employees of our local partner: they track the kits and ensure distribution

Feeling good that 87% of the money spent goes right to the women we are serving.

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