Three months into their 12-month projects, the Group 5 Midwife Buddies are making strong strides in maternal health across PNG. From placenta pits to solar lighting, Hemacue machines to breastfeeding education, each midwife is shaping meaningful change in their communities — backed by mentorship from their Aussie counterparts. This month’s update is full of progress, partnerships, and even a surprise international visit!
The Group 5 Midwife Buddies are busy with their quality projects this month as we can see from their recent reports. The projects have a 12-month timeframe and we are now in the 3rd month.
Gwyneth has had important visitors to her Health Unit recently. Now back on track with her project. Looking at what steps are needed and her literature review. Noah is meeting with his managers and still looking to obtain a radiant warmer. He is writing his business plan.
Stephen has obtained funding and permission for his Placenta Pit and it will be built in August and named after his Aussie Buddy midwife Angela! Stacey is doing her business case for the Hemacue machine for her clinic
Mendi has a business plan and costing for him to travel to his health centres to review as to what is needed for surgical equipment. Raymond is being encouraged by his Aussie buddy midwife to progress his project for a solar light source in his clinic.
Patricia very busy with polio vaccinations at the moment. She has been collecting PPH data for her project. Jacobeth is collecting 4 years of data for her monitoring in labour project. Yvette their Aussie midwife buddy, is planning to have them both included on WhatsApp at a presentation for the Midwifery State Conference in Tasmania later this year.
Sylvester’s WhatsApp group in Bougainville is going well. Being used extensively and all users are joining up to the PNG Midwives Society. Mary and Paula from the PNG Midwives Society are working with him. He is undertaking a large survey in the village as to why women are not using his Health Centre. Meetings every 2 weeks with Carolyn. Christine is working in a special care nursery in Rabaul. Writing her business plan how to educate midwives in education mothers on the benefits of breast feeding. Has sourced a company who manufactures Bilirubin lights.
Ruth is developing a plan to build more confidence in her birthing centre staff. Alice her Aussie midwife buddy is helping her with pre and post questionaries on Survey Monkey. Macdeel is collecting data on Still Births and Foetal Deaths in Utero and creating information and flow charts for review, to aid in educating Ward Clerks in her hospital.
Ruth paid a surprise visit to her buddy Alice in Canberra last week.
