Definitely not a seamstress!

I got my 20 year old sewing machine back from my son's girlfriend today.

Sewing has never been my forte. My mother didn't sew, and I never learned at school. However as a new mother myself I was enthusiastic to add this to my list of accomplishments - albeit short lived........ 

My sewing repertoire never extended beyond child size t-shirts and tracksuits.  Children are amazingly uncomplaining until they can talk!!  Then there was a craft phase where my long suffering family and friends received dreadful tissue box holders and photo albums. We still have a rather inebriated Christmas tree fairy that I actually find quite charming!!  But I digress. 

What has this to do with Tanzania?

I am leaving in just over 3 weeks for a developing country that has significant rates of maternal and child mortality and morbidity.  The task of the GHAWA volunteers will be to provide midwives, nurses, doctors, medical students and skilled birth attendants with appropriate education and skills, in a resource poor environment, to help turn this statistic around. We are very aware that this won't be achieved overnight and neither will it be easy. However it is hoped that we sow the seeds and with time they will flourish.  


The World Health Organization (WHO) defines the maternal mortality rate as the number of direct and indirect maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 livebirths. Approximately 500,000 women die each year due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Of these women 99% are from African, Asian and Latin American countries. In Western Australia there have been 35 maternal deaths in the period 1981 - 2008. Only 18 of these were directly related to the pregnancy, - a Maternal Mortality Ratio of 6.8 per 100,000 live births^1.  Compare this to the Tanzanian Maternal Mortality Ratio of 578 per 100,000 live births.  This is approximatley 18% of all deaths of females between the ages of 15 and 49 years (WHO).  An enormous task awaits us.

There are a number of illnesses and disorders of pregnancy that can threaten the well-being of both mother and baby. Obstetrical emergencies may also occur during active labour, and after birth (postpartum). In an ideal world world all pregnant women would see their chosen health care professional on a regular basis and are more likely to have a problem diagnosed and managed quickly and effectively. We are charged with providing education and clinical support that will assist  in the effective anticipation of problems and the ability to perform a variety of emergency procedures and manage complications. 

Training pants!!  
Adults are very often visual and kinetic learners, so didactic lessons may not be very effective.  We will require some resources to aid us.  In developed countries we have expensive high fidelity equipment to use in learning situations.  We know this is not going to be the case in most instances in Tanzania. So over to the trusty needle and thread.  

As previously stated, my needlework is not of the best standard.   However my rather meagre offering might just do the job.  I have been reliably informed that gelatine and  cochineal makes great blood. This remains to be seen. When my fingers have stopped bleeding we may be able to deal with our first "postpartum haemorrhage".

                 
^1.  Ref:Gee V. (2010). Perinatal, Infant and Maternal Mortality in Western Australia, 2004-2008. Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia.