Midwife training equipment for Nusa Tenggara Timur

Australia is providing more than Rp 260,730,000 worth of midwife training equipment to help save the lives of pregnant women and their babies in Nusa Tenggara Timur.

The equipment presented to the Midwifery Department of Kupang’s Health Polytechnic School today will be used to teach students to care for women during labour, manage emergencies and resuscitate newborns.

Indonesian statistics show that for every 100,000 live births in Indonesia, 228 women died as a result of childbirth with almost 40 in every 1,000 infants dying before their fifth birthday.

Dr Jenny Kerrison from Australia’s overseas aid agency, AusAID, handed over the equipment which will support Indonesia’s efforts to meet Indonesian and Millennium Development Goals for reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

“This midwifery school is a key educator of midwives throughout NTT and the new equipment will help ensure midwives are trained to conduct clean and safe deliveries,” Dr Kerrison said.

Funded under the A$49 million Australia Indonesia Partnership for Maternal and Neonatal Health, the equipment includes life sized models of mothers and babies and other vital training tools.

The Australia Indonesia Partnership will also help revitalise the midwifery school’s student and teacher library with new text books and help provide internet access at the school.

The Head of the school’s Midwifery Program, Elisabeth E. Umpenawany, welcomed the support saying “we are very grateful for the equipment as it will improve the overall quality of teaching at the school. Lecturers, students and patients will all benefit”.

Media Enquiries:
Natasha Simpson AusAID Public Affairs tel. (021) 2550 5609 mob. 0811 187 2365