Ventilators for Malawi's Maternity Ward
Breath of Fresh Air Fundraiser: Raising funds for Malawian Moms
As citizens of a
country with abundant health resources the anticipated birth of a baby is
always a joyous experience. We celebrate with baby showers, prepare with name
selections, and decorate the newborn's room.
Whether caused by joy or oxygen, the baby's first breath is accompanied
with tears from everyone who witnesses it. In this country it is uncommon for
us to worry about that baby's first breath being the mother's last. However, in
impoverished countries such as Malawi, Africa that reality is far too common.
According to the
World Health Organization Malawi's maternal mortality rate is 460 per 100,000
live births. The maternal mortality rate in the United States is 12.7 per
100,000 live births. The most common cause of death for mothers during live
births is post partum hemorrhaging, which accounts for over 50% of the maternal
deaths. Providing oxygen to mothers through portable ventilators during child
delivery decreases the risk of mortality from post partum hemorrhaging. Unfortunately hospitals such as
Queen Elizabeth lack the financial resources to purchase enough ventilators for
their soon to be mothers. Queen Elizabeth Hospital is the largest hospital in
Malawi and has the second highest maternal mortality rate. The University of
Chicago chapter of United Against Infectious Diseases in coalition with the University of Chicago Graduate Council, and the
non-profit organization Then Just Feed One, Inc. is raising funds to purchase 4
ventilators for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. To ensure
that the ventilators are delivered directly to the hospital, a group of
University of Chicago students will be traveling to Malawi this summer to
deliver the ventilators personally to the maternity ward.
The ventilators cost
approximately $4,000 each, hence why so many hospitals in impoverished areas
lack the resources to provide enough of them to their patients. On behalf of
the University of Chicago chapter of United Against Infectious Diseases and
Then Just Feed One, Inc., we are asking you to join us in raising funds and
help us provide a breath of fresh air to these soon to be mothers so that their
newborn's first breath isn't their last.
Sincerely,
Michelle Mbekeani
Project Director
