Expecting a child and becoming a parent can be one of the most transformative, exciting, and difficult experiences in one’s life.  Ideally, every mother would have the food and medication she needs for a healthy pregnancy. She would have access to prenatal care and would be able to attend baby preparation classes with the father of her child. When she […]

Expecting a child and becoming a parent can be one of the most transformative, exciting, and difficult experiences in one’s life.  Ideally, every mother would have the food and medication she needs for a healthy pregnancy. She would have access to prenatal care and would be able to attend baby preparation classes with the father of her child. When she is ready to birth the baby, she would have a skilled birth attendant by her side in a health centre.

The reality is that many women who become pregnant in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are unable to have access to ensure a clean birth, which has been recognised as essential for the health and survival of both mothers and children. When babies are delivered in unsanitary conditions and without proper care, an otherwise healthy child can be at risk of getting an infection, and possibly even death.

A Birthing Kit is a small toolkit of items that help women have cleaner and safer birthing experiences. The Birthing Kits which are sent to PNG for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG) to distribute contain a square of plastic, a square of old linen, 2 cloth nappies, 2 nappy pins, a face washer, 2 pieces of half inch cotton tape, a pair of disposable gloves, a cake of soap, a singlet and a tract supplied from the Lutheran Tract Mission. These are packed into a zip lock plastic bag to keep items clean and dry. These items provide mothers with a sanitary place to give birth and the tools to care for themselves and their babies after delivery by reducing infections at key high-risk moments of care during labour, birth and immediately post-birth for the mother, newborn and birth attendant. Birthing Kits are small enough that they can be easily distributed, stored, and pulled out for use when needed.

The Birthing Kits which have been diligently prepared by the Lutheran Women of Australia seem such a simple gift for mothers in Papua New Guinea (PNG), however the kit’s impact has been significant in ensuring the safe delivery of their baby. These Birthing Kits have been used in remote areas where women cannot get to a hospital to deliver their babies, or in health care centres with inadequate medical supplies.

Without access to essential medical supplies to support a clean birthing environment, many women in PNG resort to borrowing money to cover the cost of supplies and ensuring safe transport to the health care centre. Some women arrive without money or supplies to facilitate a clean delivery. Thanks to LWA’s incredible generosity, mothers have been able to deliver in a clean environment and give their newborns the best chance for a healthy start to life.

These Birthing Kits have also provided an opportunity for connection for the ELC-PNG Lutheran Health Services staff and the mothers, as they reflect the love which the Lutherans in PNG have for the women and their children.

In 2026, LCA International Mission will be moving with the LCANZ Churchwide Office to Frome Street, Adelaide, where, unfortunately, we will be unable to store the completed Birthing Kits (space that is needed before they are shipped to PNG at the end of each year). We have therefore made the difficult decision to no longer continue to supply Birthing Kits for use in PNG. 

We are incredibly grateful to each of you who have contributed to this Birthing Kit program, and we encourage you to continue to prepare and send completed Birthing Kits until the conclusion of 2025. Please keep ELC-PNG Lutheran Health Services in your prayers as we bring the Birthing Kits program to its conclusion in a way that honours our gracious and merciful Creator God.

If you would like to consider the opportunity to join God’s mission through the assembling and donation of Birthing Kits, you are invited to phone LCA International Mission on +61 8 8267 7317 or email lcaim@lca.org.au. For more information, go to https://www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/birthing-kits/

Read more stories about our partner church in Papua New Guinea at https://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/papua-new-guinea/