CQU Bundaberg will be the assembly point for another 1000 Zonta Birthing Kits this Sunday, October 29 from 10am - 3pm.

The Zonta Club of Bundaberg’s goal is to assemble a total of 2000 kits (1000 were assembled at CQU Bundaberg in September) and this will be accomplished this weekend.

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

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

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, a piece of soap, a pair of latex gloves, cords, scalpel blade and gauze squares.

"The members of the Zonta Club of Bundaberg are grateful to the CQU staff and students who will assist us with the assembly of these kits," said Zonta member 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.

For further information, please contact Desirae Kirby on 41507008 or d.kirby@cqu.edu.au