Re: [ozmidwifery] 'Dodging Bullets Catching Babies'
Hi, It's interesting. I get mixed reports. I know that there was a a big push through Rotary Groups earlier in the year when all the unrest happened, by Nestle. They were donating container loads of formula to East Timor and were asking Rotary to pay for it to be shipped over there! Some other Aust midwives working there have said that formula co's are having an influence and in some places weaning is being influenced by Western ideas Glad to see your experience was positive Barb from Warrnambool - Original Message - From: Margaret Aggar [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 11:01 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] 'Dodging Bullets Catching Babies' Dear Barb, I'm not sure what the stats are on breastfeeding are in East Timor, but in the 9 weeks that I was there, I only witnessed breastfeeding and there were no problems - they just do it! One of the Midwives would emerge from the overnight room to do the morning round with the Dr, with her todler attached to the breast, the pharmacist of the clinic always seemed to her have her baby attached also. The Alola Foundation has done a lot to assist in the area of breastfeeding, you can visit their site at www.alolafoundation.org Not sure where you come from Barb, but I will be doing a presentation on my Dili Experience with a focus on breastfeeding at a local Breastfeeding Group, in the Gosford area in March (date to be confirmed) if you or others are interested. Just let me know. Regards, Margaret Margaret Aggar [EMAIL PROTECTED] 24 Eden Grove ERINA NSW 2250 Australia tel: (02) 4365-4037 mobile: 0409821773 Add me to your address book... Want a signature like this? -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/579 - Release Date: 7/12/2006 1:31 PM -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
[ozmidwifery] 'Dodging Bullets Catching Babies'
Thanks to all those who have generously made donations to Midwives - East Timor account for Birth Kits. I forgot to mention that I am happy to send receipts to those who donate, just email me your postal address to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and I will post a receipt. It will also help if you place your name in the 'reference' when making the donation. I also hope in the future to be able to provide scholarship funding to allow the Timorese Midwives to come to Australia and attend a Conference / Seminar. Airfares are approximately $1,000 return to Sydney! Thanks again for your support! Margaret Margaret Aggar [EMAIL PROTECTED] 24 Eden Grove ERINA NSW 2250 Australia tel: (02) 4365-4037 mobile: 0409821773 Midwives - East Timor Fundraising Account Bendigo Bank Account Name: Midwives - East Timor BSB: 633000 Account Number: 128668514 Donations can be made at any Bendigo Bank or over the internet. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/579 - Release Date: 7/12/2006 1:31 PM -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
[ozmidwifery] 'Dodging Bullets Catching Babies'
I have been on and off the list for several years, and was off it when the recent emails came through about Birth Kits for Third World Countries, so thought I would send some information about my experience in Dili this year and the on-going support that will be given there. I have a number of opportunities to speak about my experience in Dili in the new year, one of these will be the NSW Pregnancy, Birth and Early Pregnancy CoOrdinator's Network on March 21 and another, the Central Coast Midwives Association on March 28. If anyone would like more information please contact me - details below. Below is some information about my 2 trips to East Timor in 2005 2006. I will be returning in 2007. Dili, East Timor May 1 June 28, 2006 I first went to Dili East Timor in May 2005 for 16 days, after hearing that the mortality rate there was 100 times that of Australias. As a Midwife and Childbirth Educator, I was crazy enough to think that there might be something I can do to help! Some Facts about East Timor: ·East Timor is one of the most fertile nations of the world ·Only 10% of pregnant women in East Timor give birth with the assistance of a qualified Midwife ·The Maternal and Neonatal Mortality rate in East Timor is 100 times that of Australia, 860 deaths for every 100,000 live births. One of the reasons for such a high level of maternal problems is the low utilisation of skilled assistance for pre-natal care, birth and post-natal care. Peri-Natal Neonatal Mortality ·8-9 out of every 100 children born, die before their 1st birthday. ·3-4 out of every 100 children die before reaching age 5. · Risk of dying is markedly higher in rural than urban areas. ·Newborn babies die or are damaged because of birth asphyxia, trauma or infections. ·In highland / rural areas only about 12% of women had a trained attendant at their birth. ·In 2003 61% of births were assisted by relatives or friends During my visit in 2005, I was asked by a Dr in a clinic in Bairo Pite, Dili if I would provide some training for Midwives working at the clinic so that they could then provide training for women in remote villages that currently assist with births, but havent had any formal training. I was also asked to provide Birth Kits with resources for the Birth Attendants in these remote villages. I arrived in Dili on May 1, 2006 several days after demonstrations and rioting broke out in Dili resulting in deaths and injuries. On May 4, 20,000 people fled from Dili. I received regular text and e-mail updates from The Australian Embassy, there were opportunities to leave, but I declined these, preferring to work with the Midwives and complete the training that I had planned to do. I got used to the sound of gunfire in the early weeks it was great to have a noisy air-conditioner in my room to block the noise out at night! Despite the unrest in East Timor and the capital of Dili, I was able to continue to visit the clinic daily, with the exception of one day May 27, when I was advised not to leave my accommodation due to gunfire around the area of the clinic, there was also a lot of gunfire in the area I was staying. I contacted some friends that I had made the previous year to see if they were okay they were flat on the floor of their home, trying to avoid bullets, and told me that every home around them was on fire! I had to call the Embassy to get assistance for them to get out. This was the day that the Australian troops began to arrive I had never thought that the sound on an APC or Army chopper would bring me such comfort! It was great to have the troops there, and they eventually began to disarm those with weapons, however the gang activity of fires and destruction continued. One of the officers from the Australian Army that had been in East Timor in 1999, told me that when the Army arrived in 1999, the gang activity stopped, however this time it has continued. The Timorese that were still in Dili were beginning to move to refugee camps outside Embassies, in Churches and Clinics, the Hospital and at the Airport. One refugee camp a Church had 14,000 people in it! When I arrived at the Clinic on May 28, there had been about 500 refugees camped there overnight many of these people were still there when I left at the end of June. The Training During the 9 weeks I was in Dili I was able to complete the training I had planned to do, covering all aspects of pre-natal care, labour, birth and the post-natal period. I included training on Infection Control, Newborn Examinations, Postnatal checks on Mothers prior to discharge and 6-week Post-Natal Checkups, as well as Midwifery Emergencies. There were set times each morning we would do the training, and then I would work with them throughout the day and reinforce things on the job. It was challenging at times as all of the Midwives became refugees at the Clinic with their families,
Re: [ozmidwifery] 'Dodging Bullets Catching Babies'
What wonderful work you are doing Margaret! This report of your experiences is fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing it. You report the statistics from the Alola foundation. Are you also working with Kirsty Sword Gusmao, the first lady of the world's newest nation, East Timor? It would be great to join your inspirational efforts with hers. She is working hard for the welfare of women and children in East Timor and is very focussed on providing resources for midwives and birthing women. with great admiration, warmly, Carolyn - Original Message - From: Margaret Aggar [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 8:19 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] 'Dodging Bullets Catching Babies' I have been on and off the list for several years, and was off it when the recent emails came through about Birth Kits for Third World Countries, so thought I would send some information about my experience in Dili this year and the on-going support that will be given there. I have a number of opportunities to speak about my experience in Dili in the new year, one of these will be the NSW Pregnancy, Birth and Early Pregnancy CoOrdinator's Network on March 21 and another, the Central Coast Midwives Association on March 28. If anyone would like more information please contact me - details below. Below is some information about my 2 trips to East Timor in 2005 2006. I will be returning in 2007. Dili, East Timor May 1 - June 28, 2006 I first went to Dili East Timor in May 2005 for 16 days, after hearing that the mortality rate there was 100 times that of Australia's. As a Midwife and Childbirth Educator, I was 'crazy' enough to think that there might be something I can do to help! Some Facts about East Timor: ·East Timor is one of the most fertile nations of the world ·Only 10% of pregnant women in East Timor give birth with the assistance of a qualified Midwife ·The Maternal and Neonatal Mortality rate in East Timor is 100 times that of Australia, 860 deaths for every 100,000 live births. One of the reasons for such a high level of maternal problems is the low utilisation of skilled assistance for pre-natal care, birth and post-natal care. Peri-Natal Neonatal Mortality ·8-9 out of every 100 children born, die before their 1st birthday. ·3-4 out of every 100 children die before reaching age 5. · Risk of dying is markedly higher in rural than urban areas. ·Newborn babies die or are damaged because of birth asphyxia, trauma or infections. ·In highland / rural areas only about 12% of women had a trained attendant at their birth. ·In 2003 61% of births were assisted by relatives or friends During my visit in 2005, I was asked by a Dr in a clinic in Bairo Pite, Dili if I would provide some training for Midwives working at the clinic so that they could then provide training for women in remote villages that currently assist with births, but haven't had any formal training. I was also asked to provide Birth Kits with resources for the Birth Attendants in these remote villages. I arrived in Dili on May 1, 2006 several days after demonstrations and rioting broke out in Dili resulting in deaths and injuries. On May 4, 20,000 people fled from Dili. I received regular text and e-mail updates from The Australian Embassy, there were opportunities to leave, but I declined these, preferring to work with the Midwives and complete the training that I had planned to do. I got used to the sound of gunfire in the early weeks - it was great to have a noisy air-conditioner in my room to block the noise out at night! Despite the unrest in East Timor and the capital of Dili, I was able to continue to visit the clinic daily, with the exception of one day May 27, when I was advised not to leave my accommodation due to gunfire around the area of the clinic, there was also a lot of gunfire in the area I was staying. I contacted some friends that I had made the previous year to see if they were okay - they were flat on the floor of their home, trying to avoid bullets, and told me that every home around them was on fire! I had to call the Embassy to get assistance for them to get out. This was the day that the Australian troops began to arrive - I had never thought that the sound on an APC or Army chopper would bring me such comfort! It was great to have the troops there, and they eventually began to disarm those with weapons, however the gang activity of fires and destruction continued. One of the officers from the Australian Army that had been in East Timor in 1999, told me that when the Army arrived in 1999, the gang activity stopped, however this time it has continued. The Timorese that were still in Dili were beginning to move to refugee camps outside Embassies, in Churches and Clinics, the Hospital and at the Airport. One refugee camp - a Church had 14,000 people
Re: [ozmidwifery] 'Dodging Bullets Catching Babies'
Hi, I'd love to hear more about breastfeeding in East Timor Warm Regards. Barb -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
[ozmidwifery] 'Dodging Bullets Catching Babies'
Dear Carolyn, Thanks for your email. Yes, i have had contacts with the Alola Foundation, however on this visit, due to the unrest in Dili, they were closed for a lot of the time I was there but I was able to make phone contact with some of the workers at the end of my time there. I receive regular updates from Kirsty and I look forward to catching up with them on my next visit. Regards, Margaret Margaret Aggar [EMAIL PROTECTED] 24 Eden Grove ERINA NSW 2250 Australia tel: (02) 4365-4037 mobile: 0409821773 Add me to your address book... Want a signature like this? -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/579 - Release Date: 7/12/2006 1:31 PM -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
[ozmidwifery] 'Dodging Bullets Catching Babies'
Dear Barb, I'm not sure what the stats are on breastfeeding are in East Timor, but in the 9 weeks that I was there, I only witnessed breastfeeding and there were no problems - they just do it! One of the Midwives would emerge from the overnight room to do the morning round with the Dr, with her todler attached to the breast, the pharmacist of the clinic always seemed to her have her baby attached also. The Alola Foundation has done a lot to assist in the area of breastfeeding, you can visit their site at www.alolafoundation.org Not sure where you come from Barb, but I will be doing a presentation on my Dili Experience with a focus on breastfeeding at a local Breastfeeding Group, in the Gosford area in March (date to be confirmed) if you or others are interested. Just let me know. Regards, Margaret Margaret Aggar [EMAIL PROTECTED] 24 Eden Grove ERINA NSW 2250 Australia tel: (02) 4365-4037 mobile: 0409821773 Add me to your address book... Want a signature like this? -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/579 - Release Date: 7/12/2006 1:31 PM -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
