On Wednesday 26th October, our guest speaker was a nurse from Papua New Guinea, Regina Pima Seki, who has returned to Perth to undertake her Doctorate in Maternal and Child Health at Curtin University, having previously come here to complete her Masters.
Regina told the same story of high mortality rate of mothers and babies, lack of equipment, nursing and medical care that is seen in many other Asian and African countries.
She was unaware that Rotary has a Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health which could assist, plus local Rotary Clubs in Papua New Guinea could assist with projects. We also informed her about Zonta’s Birthing Kits.
Di Collins was also able to let Regina know that the highest trained nurse in PNG, Maryanne Takome, obtained her training in Adelaide under a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, which was a special one for developing countries. (PRID Ken Collins had assisted Maryanne to apply for the scholarship, having met her while he was working as a Rotary volunteer in Papua New Guinea).
Regina certainly came to the right club for concrete ideas to further assist with maternal and child health in PNG!