Help assemble Birthing Kits and give of a small bit of your time to assist in the prevention of childbirth infections for women who are giving birth without medical resources. On November 16, from 10:00-2:00 at The Collective 100 S 2nd St., Zonta of Laramie will host a Birthing Kit assembly party.

Zonta of Laramie is a service organization and this past June, 2024, members who attended the Zonta International Convention in Brisbane, Australia, were inspired by a Birthing Kit demonstration held there, and determined to hold an event in Laramie.  This event is free and open to the public, light refreshments will be provided.

A Birthing Kit includes a plastic sheet, soap, gauze, gloves for sanitation, and scalpel and cord ties for the umbilical cord. At a Birthing Kit event, these items are folded into a small bag for distribution in places where a clean birth kit helps prevent infection.

Why are clean birth kits needed? The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 99% of all maternal deaths and the vast majority of newborn deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Sadly, over 300,000 women and 2.5 million babies die annually in childbirth, many from preventable infections. Infection acquired during or directly after childbirth, is one of the leading (third most likely) causes of newborn and maternal death. Good hygiene is critical in eliminating infection during this time. With a clean birthing kit, mothers giving birth at home or with limited medical support have the resources to reduce their exposure to disease and infection.

Where do our kits go? Africa, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan are among the countries receiving kits. Zonta of Laramie is partnering with Birthing Kit Foundation Australia (https://www.bkfa.org.au/), which is dedicated to facilitating better access to health, education, and employment opportunities for women and girls. In 2018/2019, BKFA sent over 210,000 clean birth kits to its accredited field partners in 20 countries.