CQU Bundaberg was the recent assembly point for Zonta Birthing Kits which will help save lives and reduce suffering during births.

The Zonta Birthing Kits started as a trial in 1999 with 100 kits being sent to Papua New Guinea. It has now evolved with over 220,000 kits being sent to 26 countries including Afghanistan, Kenya, Sri Lanka and East Timor.

About 120 million women give birth every year, with 86% delivering in developing countries. About 60 million of these women have the assistance of a traditional birth attendant, or no assistance at all.

UNICEF and the Safe Motherhood Organisation estimated in 1996 that 585,000 women die annually in childbirth. Developing countries accounted for 99% of these deaths. For every woman who dies in childbirth, another 30 women incur injuries and infections.

A Birthing Kit works by providing the 7 cleans for a clean birth. Clean birth site, clean hands, clean ties, clean razor, clean gauze, clean umbilical cord and clean perineum. The kit contains a plastic sheet, piece of soap, pair of latex gloves, cords, scalpel blade and gauze squares.

"The members of the Zonta Club of Bundaberg were grateful to the CQU staff and students who assisted us with the assembly of the kits. Approximately 30 people gave up their Saturday to assemble 1000 kits and we hope to assemble another 1000 in the near future," said Zonta member Ms Desirae Kirby.

Zonta is a world-wide organisation of women in business and the professions who work to advance the status of women.

The birthing kits were provided with funding from AusAID and Zonta Clubs.