Helen Loewenstein
Helen's Life for African Mothers fun fundraiser page
Fundraising for Life For African Mothers
Story
Some of you will know already that I am currently spending a year volunteering for Life for African Mothers in Liberia. http:
Liberia, with a population of around 4.2 million, continues to rebuild its health system, which was seriously weakened by the devastating civil war (1989-2003) and the Ebola epidemic from 2014 to 2015that saw its infrastructure destroyed and the loss of many of its health workers. More than half the population lives in poverty with approximately one-quarter living in extreme poverty. Liberia ranks 177 out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index 2016. In 2016 Infant mortality in Liberia was 52.8 per 1000 live births (UK 3.5) and there were 0.1 physicians per 10,000 people (UK 28.1) Maternal Mortality remains very high, at 725 per 100,000 in 2015. (UK 9)
Liberia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which to give birth and I am helping to coordinate a national programme to provide skills-sharing workshops to Liberian midwives to enhance their clinical skills in caring for mothers and babies. Teams of UK midwives travel to Liberia to deliver the workshops in the capital Monrovia and in the rural areas. The workshops have the backing of the Liberian Ministry of Health, who have said LFAM is the only organisation delivering essential midwifery training in Liberia, and the Liberian Nursing and Midwifery Association and other local organisations support the programme.
I will be home for a short holiday in May 2017. On Saturday 13th May, together with other members of the LFAM team, I will be hosting an event in Sherwood and sharing our experiences and insights into the work being done in Liberia, and also hoping to gain support and raise some money to help pay for the costs of this valuable work.
The event is at the Sherwood United Reform Church, Nottingham NG5 3AA from 1.30 to 4.00 p.m.There will be refreshments (including Liberian cake!) and a variety of arts and crafts and other items to buy as well as a raffle, tombola and a collection to help fund the ongoing work in Liberia.We’d also like to have a "Mistakes Sale" – “Mistakes” are those unwanted gifts or new/almost new items that we all have from time to time.
Please pass this information on to anyone you know who might be interested. I look forward to seeing many of you on 13th May! If you can’t come on the 13th May but would like to make a donation on this site. Thank you!