You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Uncategorized' category.
Big applause for First United Methodist of Pflugerville, Texas. Their youth group is our first Birthing Hope partner group. They’ve committed a one month supply of birthing kits. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that next week will present another one month supply.
We need financial partners too. $10, $50, $150 contributions – all are welcome. Let me know if you are interested.
There is much to say about our community sewing circle for the village of Kidete. For now I will post this picture. Amazing!
A complete list is on the way. Here are some current needs:Betadine (off brand is acceptable) 16 0z. bottles, Cotton Balls, Medical tape, Soap (Ivory – non scented), Latex gloves (disposable), Single edge razors, Incontinence pads
Last Wednesday we created 71 birthing kits. Once we add the drop cloths the kits will be finished. Remember, each kit supplies one skilled attendant for one month. That means we will be sending enough supplies for 710 births.
Do you have friends outside of our church who might be willing to participate in our initiative? We are looking for volunteers to help us with kit collection and the shipping costs. Soon I will be posting a list of the exact contents of a kit.
Thanks to one and all for the help and encouragement.
Dear Elba,
It’s time for me to post an entry. Instead of writing you I’ve been spending a lot of time with you. Since returning from Prague I’ve been with you every week. I’ve learned a lot of useful information about the Coffee County Seat.
I know where the coldest Cokes in town are sold (Lawford’s Hardware) and that no matter how much I like Mexican food, it is possible for me to tire of cheese enchiladas. On Sunday afternoons one can buy collards on Hwy. 84 near the Dorsey truck building. Enterprise is only about 22 minutes from Elba and the New Brockton post office keeps regular hours on Wednesday. Oh, and I should never get up to read scripture without a tissue in hand.
Last week Charlotte helped put up the Christmas tree in the Coffee House. It makes me smile when I drive by it at the end of the day. It’s hard to believe today is December 1.
I got an email from our Global Health Action representative on Friday. She sent the supply list for our birthing kits. Mary Gray and I are working on a plan to start putting kits together. Your help is needed. I’ll send details soon.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of Advent. It’s going to be a great month.
See you at the collard stand,
Suzanah
PS
I bought two bunches last Sunday and got four packs out of them.
Dear Elba,
Take a look at this very interesting story from the New York Times. It highlights a networking venture in Bangalore, India with potential for duplication in other cities. The project exists to help those in extreme poverty find jobs. I’m fascinated with the concept.
How can we use technology to network women in need of emergency obstetric care?
I’m thankful to be serving with you.
“Every generation, 10 million women die from complications related to pregnancy. The global Church has resources that can decrease that staggering number,” said Suzanah Raffield. Raffield attended the international conference, Women Deliver held in London, England October 18 – 20. She was one of more than 1,500 delegates. Registrations included 105 countries.
Designed to serve as a global call to action surrounding the need for a world wide increase in maternal health, Women Deliver marked the 20th anniversary of the historic 1987 launch of the Safe Motherhood Initiative held in Nairobi, Kenya.
20 years later maternal mortality statistics remain unacceptably high. The World Health Organization estimates that every minute a woman dies from a pregnancy related cause. The September 2006 edition of The Lancet states that, “Maternal mortality could be cut by nearly three-quarters by improving women’s access to comprehensive reproductive health services . . .” Pregnant women need skilled birthing attendants who are capable of handling obstetric emergencies. Adequate medical facilities and the means to get to those facilities are also crucial.
According to the Women Deliver website, “One in six Afghan women will die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. One in . . . 29,800 [women will die] in Sweden.” The imbalance of statistics showcases the ability to save women’s lives and the failure to do so.
“334,000 midwives are needed right now,” said Thoraya Obaid Executive Director of the UNFPA. As stated by the World Health Organization, a midwife is included in the definition of a skilled birthing attendant and only 57% of women world wide give birth with a skilled attendant present.
Obaid moderated the workshop, Faith Based Organizations and Maternal Mortality. She expressed the need to work with faith based organizations and not against them. “We must be about the building of capacity to trust one another,” she said.
In August Suzanah Raffield became the Global Minister in Residence at Covenant Community Church in Elba, AL. As a minister she believes in using the existing network of Churches world wide in the push to decrease maternal mortality.
The World Council of Churches reports being affiliated with approximately 114 denominations throughout the continent of Africa. Under WCC membership guidelines, that equates to an estimated 2,775,000 individual congregations. The 2006 Baptist World Alliance yearbook reports 157,921 member churches of the BWA.
“Statistics show that skilled birthing attendants and access to adequate medical facilities can save the lives of mothers and infants,” said Raffield. “What if we used our global network to ensure that every church in the world trained and sponsored at least one skilled birthing attendant?”
Post partum hemorrhaging, infections resulting from unsafe abortions, hypertensive disorders, and obstructed labor are some of the most common causes of maternal death as found on the UNFPA website. Care International President Helene Gayle said, “What we really mean when we say post partum hemorrhage is that women are bleeding to death.”
Covenant Community Church in Elba, AL is creating a maternal health initiative that combines the efforts of churches and individuals to reduce maternal mortality.
For more information on how you or your church can be involved in the maternal health initiative contact suzanah@discovercovenant.com, 334-897-2288.
Dear Elba:
The first day of the Women Deliver Conference was amazing. I am honored to be one of the 2,000 delegates present. The morning session began at 9:00. Thankfully I registered yesterday and was able to avoid the morning’s long lines.
The ExCel Centre is convenient to public transportation and I’m beginning to learn my way around the “tube” stations. I’m staying with friends who live fairly close to the center. From their front door I have about a five-minute walk to the bus station that takes me to the tube where I change once before arriving at the conference.
The directors of the World Health Organization and The United Nations Population Fund are in attendance at this meeting. Also here are heads of state and hundreds of doctors, nurses, and midwives.
Today I received a thrill by meeting Dr. Catherine Hamlin, co-founder of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. You met her through a video clip I showed at church one Wednesday night this past summer. I cannot tell you what a joy it was for me to speak with her. I’m still in shock.
I am here with hundreds of “Dr. Hamlins” who make life-altering differences in the communities in which they live and work. You are here with me in spirit. Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. I look forward to sharing more soon.
With appreciation,
Suzanah
Dear Elba:
It was wonderful to be with you on Wednesday night.
In researching the maternal health initiative I came across a very interesting website. It highlights the proceedings of a conference held in 2000 for ministers regarding health and the Church’s response. There were eleven countries and three continents represented.
Their statements make me want to sing as they acknowledge the Church’s need to promote health care.
“The healing ministry of the church is part and parcel of the church’s mission to healing and wholeness in accordance with Christ’s mandate: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for He has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen. (Luke 4: 18,22)”
They name maternal health as an issue the Church must address.
“Aware that the she is the largest actor in health besides governments, the church knows that this is not the time to sit back contemplating past achievements. More than a billion people are still struggling in abject poverty. Although health care is a basic human right, health services are scarce, often not available, nor appropriate or affordable. When looking at basic statistics of life expectancy, child mortality, maternal mortality, the need for great efforts to further improve health is patent. Investing in health care as well as in social economic advancement have to proceed together. Moreover, the HIV/AIDS epidemic exacerbates the situation and threatens past achievements. Evidently, there is still a lot of work to do and the church is determined to continue to be active.”
You can read the entire statement by pasting the following address into your browser: http://www.medicusmundi.org/Kampala2004/09.doc
Hopefully I will hear something soon from our friends at Global Health Action. I am anxious to find out where and when they want us to send the birthing kits.
Please continue to pray for our efforts and our future partnership sites.
Yours truly,
Suzanah
