Prossie Students Do Their Part For “The Right To A Safe Birth”

A staggering 385,000 women die annually during childbirth, many from preventable infections.

The Zonta Club of the Whitsundays Inc. and students from two Proserpine high schools put together 600 birthing kits at the beginning of October to be sent overseas and combat that harrowing statistic.

The Zonta Birthing Kit project – which began in 1995 - involves clubs arranging a birthing kit assembly day, putting together simple, clean birthing kits and sending them to birthing assistants in developing countries.

Proserpine State High School have been participating in the project alongside the local Zonta club for over a decade, and on October 13, volunteered 30 of their year 10 students to contribute in the altruistic activity for the first time.

Early Childhood Teacher Cathy Muller said her year 10 students had recently completed the curriculum’s sexual education component – including birthing – and the birthing kit project had resonated with many of the young girls in her cohort.

“They think about giving birth in the future and they have the luxury of a hospital, while these ladies who receive the packages have nothing,” Ms Muller said.

“We forget about that.”

Whitsunday Zonta Club President Dianne Trueman said, alongside St Catherine’s College Proserpine, the support from the State High School was exceptional.

“Proserpine school do a great job with us, alongside St. Cath’s who have a Z Club. It’s always fantastic and all these kids gain something from it,” she said.

Both school’s complete 200 kits each, with the Zonta Club completing the remainder to reach 600.

The kits cost $5 each and consist of a sheet of plastic, gauze, string, a blade, soap, and gloves.

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Zonta Club members and students and staff at Proserpine State High School helped to put together 600 birthing kits for Zimbabwean women