PNG Birthing Huts

Wanganui Central Baptist's Own Birthing Hut!


Sister Kay lives in the Papua New Guinean Highlands. She was born into a family fully involved in medical work. Her father Mako was among the first group of the Enga people to be a paramedic. He ran primary health care outposts in remote villages in the Highlands.





Although Kay did not want to work in medicine, she was urged into training by her father. Out of respect for him she complied and then discovered that she was extremely gifted in nursing, nurse managment and nurse training.

After independence came to PNG, Kay's tribal area was sadly lacking safe, hygienic and adequately staffed birthing facilities and as a result many babies and mothers were dying. Using her exceptional skills and considerable influence Kay established training facilities for selected village women to train in safe birthing procedures. She then embarked upon a programme to build and equip birthing centres throughout the region so that women giving birth could easily reach a birthing centre and be professionally cared for.

Most of these centres are built of native bush materials (thatched roof and bamboo walls) and have dirt floors. Kay's desire is that each centre would have an iron roof, a water tank and concrete floor that can be washed down. When Sister Kay visited Wanganui in 2007 she shared with our women at Wanganui Central Baptist Church her passion that every village would have a birthing hut.

Our women enthusiastically caught the vision and began to fundraise for 'our own' birthing hut. One idea was to sell cakes and coffee - dubbed "Bun in the Oven!" As a result we have been able to provide materials for a birthing hut in a remote village called Kulimbu, which is tucked into the bushclad mountains at the end of the large Baiyer Valley in the Western Highlands.

Sister Kay has trained four local women in midwifery skills. The Village Birthing Attendants now operate out of the new birthing hut. Maria, the senior practitioner is ably assisted by her three fellow midwives.

The team of Village Birthing Attendants.	Maria with her birthing kit all prepared.

During Pastor Rob Thomson's recent visit to PNG he was able to spend a night in Kulimbu village and to see 'our' birthing hut for himself. Maria told him that she has assisted with over 300 births and not one baby or mother has died. This birthing hut has made a huge contribution to the well-being of mothers and babies in this region. They are extremely grateful for the effort put into this project by the women of our church. A little effort by those who have much makes an enormous improvement in the lives of those who have so little.

Rob and Win Thomson have shared with us about some of their adventures in Papua New Guinea, click the icon below to listen to them.