By Theckla Gunga – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The United Nation’s Population Fund continues to work with other stakeholders in the Southern Highlands to promote safe deliveries of newborn babies.
Last week, the UNFPA donated 20 delivery beds, including examination lights that will be used in both church-run clinics and government-owned health centers in the Southern Highlands and Hela provinces.
The donation is part of the disaster relief assistance UNFPA is providing following the earthquake in February.
The donation of the delivery beds and examination lights is predicted to enable safer deliveries and reduce the chances of infections a newborn baby may be exposed to.
The support provided by UNFPA, a body within the United Nations Organization that specializes in Reproductive Health, was welcomed by both Hela and Southern Highlands Provincial Hospitals.
The level of assistance provided by UNFPA includes numerous training on how to manage cases of sexual assaults, domestic violence, and approaches to improving reproductive and maternal health issues in Hela and Southern Highlands.
Following the earthquake in February, many pregnant women found it challenging to seek antenatal care at urban clinics or rural aid posts.
Thus UNFPA has assisted local communities with donations of numerous kits including medical equipment to assist pregnant women and health officers.
Representing the church-run health centers, Bishop Donald Lippert spoke of how the equipment will save lives and minimize infant mortality rates in the province.
