e-NEWS Caring For Kiriwina Turns 10 - June 2022
Dear ,
Over the last decade, Caring for Kiriwina (CFK) has helped reduce the newborn mortality rate to an all time low of almost 2%, largely due to the love and kind hearts of the 300 VBA volunteer network, the supply of birthing kits and other essential items for safe births, and the training provided to the VBAs by CFK and DFAT in 2018, 2019 and 2020. However, we know we can still do better! Please help us keep up this vital work and improve this result with your tax deductible donation this EOFY.
To help us maintain our valuable assistance, please consider a regular subscription. This enables our work to continue knowing we have consistent support.
Kiriwina VBA's delivered baby girl Joy Joy Mandela and her mother.
Kiriwina VBA's delivered baby girl Tabubuna Mokalageila and her mother.
Kiriwina VBA's delivered baby boy Kelavasiya Lummwala and her mother.
Kiriwina VBA's receiving birthing kits, birth recording books, backpacks, lanterns, batteries, facemasks, gloves, pens and other PPE's mid June 2022.
- Supply of Birthing Kits & Safe delivery supplies
- Village Birth Attendant Training Program
- Local Kiriwinan midwife nursing training
The pregnancy rate on Kiriwina is very high as there are no methods of birth control available. It has almost doubled from previous years. The Kiriwinan VBA’s provide a high standard of pregnancy care and conduct successful baby deliveries. Most deliveries, about 80%, are conducted in the respective villages and the rest, mostly critical and complicated deliveries, are conducted at the Losuia Health Centre or referred to the Alotau General Hospital.
CFK sponsored plumber Mr Koega Cyprian (centre) inspecting the faulty KSS Female water pump. The water pump was soon restored by the plumber.
- Dignity Kits
- Clean Drinking Water Project
- COVID-19 Safety initiatives
- Food security Initiative
- Health & Hygiene Committee
There is still a high demand for clean drinking water on Kiriwina. Many people are still sourcing water from dug up open water wells, caves, water ponds, and catchments from rain. These are not really clean and water is often contaminated. Long dry spells cause people to walk great distances to source water. Many people living on remote islands of Kiriwina rely on coconuts and often they are forced to drink water mixed with salt water.
During our in-country manager’s recent visit to Kiriwina in June 2022, more than 20 VBA’s requested water pumps or tanks to be installed in their communities to provide clean drinking water. “On behalf of these VBA’s I wish to extend these appeals to the CFK donors for support to fund water pumps or tanks for these communities. The communities will provide their own labour to dig up water wells to install the water pumps.”
KSS female students and teachers including the School Principal receiving the donated items from CFK. The donated items include female dignity kits, pens and pencils.
- School Education materials
- School Fee Scholarship Program
- Translation of readers into Kiriwinan
- Printing of Kiriwina English Dictionary
- Funding of Kiriwina Secondary School Computer lab
Kiriwina Secondary School is in desperate need of a Computer Laboratory with computers installed to enhance the learning skills of students. To date the students have no knowledge of the use of computers and it becomes very difficult for them to adjust when they enter into Tertiary Institution for further studies.
CFK would like to sincerely thank all of our wonderful donors and supporters who have made the past 10 years and cumulatively over 75 years of Caring for Kiriwina possible.
We would especially like to mention the ongoing support of several major donors, some of whom wish to remain anonymous (you know who you are :)) and the fabulous support of the staff at the School of Population Health, UNSW Faculty of Medicine and Health.
Let's reach for the stars people!!! Please donate to our EOFY appeal :).
