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We see so much wrong in the world. Violence, hunger, poverty in all its forms shows up on our TVs and newsfeeds daily. The gravity and scale of the problems can make us feel powerless, unable to act. Our impulse is to wrap our arms around our loved ones, our children especially, and never let them out of our sight. Or we turn off the news and try to ignore it.
But how about reacting another way? What about saying: I am going to act to make a change. I’m going to get involved.
That doesn’t mean moving to the developing world or donating thousands – but you can the join the mission that I, one mom in the US, started which has grown to encompass 600 donors from around the world.
Our small but mighty organization CleanBirth.org, works to promote maternal and infant health to prevent infections – a leading killer of moms and babies. For $5 we provide birthing supplies and education to mothers in remote villages. That $5 gives moms a chance in a part of the world that has been forgotten since the end of the Vietnam-America War. For
$5 babies have clean, infection-free birthdays. Just $5 gives local nurses the chance to educate mothers and provide them birthing supplies.
Our model is unconventional. We work in with a relatively small number of mothers in a large, hard-to-reach area in Southern Laos. Local nurses and our Lao non-profit partner lead day-to-day activities and develop solutions to problems that arise. We listen, provide the funds, and offer training on ayzh Clean Birth Kits and the WHO’s Essentials of Newborn Care, through an alliance with Yale University School of Nursing.
In two years that we have supplied 4,000 azyh Clean Birth Kits and trained 110 local nurses and staff. Most importantly, during that time we have received ZERO reports of infections by moms who have used the kits.
There are definitely many problems in the world. But the solutions are legion too. Please make a step today to become part of one solution. Here’s what you can do:
- Donate http://startsomegood.com/cleanbirthlaos
- Take a picture of you (and your kids) with a handwritten sign $5 Saves 2 Lives #CleanBirth and post on FB or Twitter.
- Share a picture from CleanBirth.org’s FB site with your comment of support.
Of all people, we multicultural moms and dads understand that despite different cultures and traditions, we are all united in our love of our kids. Please act now.
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Latest posts by Kristyn Zalota (see all)
- Maternal and Infant Health: Be Part of the Solution for $5 - January 30, 2015