CleanBirth.org is an organization working to make birth safer in southern Laos, where far too many mothers and babies die needlessly
each year.
Laos has a maternal mortality rate worse than Afghanistan's and an infant mortality rate worse than Sudan's. In the villages where we work, women often birth alone, without clean supplies.
In 2012, CleanBirth.org joined
Our Village Association, a local Lao non-profit, to supply pregnant women with WHO endorsed
Clean Birth Kits ($5 each), supplies that promote hygienic birth and reduce the risk of infection and death.
Infection is a real threat in the villages where we work. Just listen to the words of this mother who lost her infant child:
“I used bamboo to cut the cord and string I found in the house to tie it. That's why my child got an infection. When I took him to see the doctor, he couldn't help. It was too late. After using a birth kit for this baby, we are safe and did not get an infection.”
- Yai
Very importantly, we also
provide education to nurses and
Village Volunteers who give mothers the kits, explain how to use them, and provide information about how to be safe during pregnancy and birth.
This Village Volunteer is putting the training to use:
“I have been a midwife for two years. After the training by the nurse in September, I helped two mothers give birth. Using the kit, the mother and child are clean. It's convenient and easy to use. We need more kits.” - Loy, midwife, Tahoy District
Thanks in large part to 323 YOU who gave in 2013, many during during crowd funding last February, we were able to supply 2,000 birth kits and train 16 local nurses and 20 Village Volunteers in 2013.
To keep the momentum going, we have formed
an alliance with the Yale University School of Nursing to improve the trainings we offer. And, with Yale midwifery students, we plan to train at least 10 nurses and 25 volunteers in July 2014.
But we can't do it without your help.
OUR GOAL
The goal for this fundraiser is to raise the funds to train those 10 nurses, 25 volunteers and provide them with 500 AYZH Clean Birth Kits.
Please join our mission to make birth safer in Laos. For very little we can bring about big change.
*** For just $5 you can provide a life saving Clean Birth Kits,
*** For $100 you can train a Village Volunteer who serves her village
*** For $250 you can sponsor a nurse who serves as many as 10 villages
Please give whatever you can. Thank you!
$5 Saves 2 Lives.
OUR TEAM
Kristyn Zalota, Founder & President, MA Yale University, BA Holy Cross, LCCE, Doula (DONA). Kristyn holds a MA from Yale in international affairs and has more than 10 years experience working on projects that empower women in the developing
world.
Max Zalota, Secretary. MBA Oxford University (UK), MS University of Michigan. Max works with the President to prepare the annual budget and present the budget to the board for approval. Further, he is our technology guru.
Jenny Fouracre, Board Member, MA Boston University, BA Michigan State University. Jenny, public relations professional, is responsible for public relations strategy and communications plan.
Shannon Lawton-O’Boyle, Board Member, LCCE, Doula (DONA), Certified Lactation Counselor, BS Purdue University. Shannon with deep roots in the birthing community, heads up efforts to promote our donation cards, via social media and through retailers.
