It is December 10th – Human Rights Day! This is the final day of the special SoroptiVoice blog series, bringing you
stories from Papua New Guinea, where this year’s President’s December
10th Appeal is taking place.  These stories paint a poignant picture of
what life is like for women in PNG, with a focus on pregnancy and
mothers.  There are many SI activities and materials for International
Human Rights Day & this year’s SI focus on women’s right to safe
motherhood, in particular access to skilled birth attendants.  Please
explore our website and social media sites to learn more and to find out
how you can take action too!

Jenny’s
story

Jenny is a teacher in a small village Lower Primary School in the Ramu valley.  Her two-roomed school, which receives church
and Government funding, has nearly a hundred students on the roll.  Jenny runs a bilingual programme for the
youngest children, gradually introducing them to English, the language of instruction
in schools throughout Papua New Guinea. 
The male Head Teacher also teaches the other class.

Jenny
can be seen here translating the Birthing in the Pacific leaflet for some of
the village women.  The SI Ramu Club is
organising an up-skilling course for Village Birthing Attendants (VBAs) and
Community Health Workers in Ramu, so there is much interest in the course.
Although many people in the village can speak English, most are illiterate.

The
pregnant women in Jenny’s village are fortunate as they live close to a main
road and live not far from the Gusap Health Centre.  However, throughout the mountainous areas of
the long river valley in which Ramu sits, few women have such easy access to
Health Centres, Clinics or Aid Posts. 
70% of women rely on Traditional Birthing Attendants(VBAs), mothers and
relatives to attend the birth of their babies.