Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics preparing to take their midwifery skills to assist women and children in far western Kenya in December have been inundated with donations of hundreds of underpants, including from corporate Australia.

 

Dr Elaine Dietsch and Ms Pam Shackleton, midwifery academics from the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at CSU in Wagga Wagga, called for donations in September for the women and children whom they plan to work with when they travel to the Bungoma district of Kenya, close to the Ugandan border, in the middle of December.

 

“Amazing as it may seem to us in Australia, underpants are considered a luxury item and the majority of women and children, especially in the remote villages we visit, have none,” Dr Dietsch said.

 

“They are particularly appreciated by menstruating women so they can continue to attend school or go to work, as well as young girls who can then run and play with a greater sense of freedom. Inspired by their work, fellow CSU academic Dr Geoff Currie went to Bonds to seek their interest in making a donation.

 

“Bonds have generously donated 100 pairs of underpants,” Dr Currie said.  “Elaine is over the moon because the 'bright and bold' underpants from Bonds are exactly what the women love.”

 

Dr Dietsch said, “During our trip, we will be spending most of our time with the traditional midwives and also in maternal and child health clinics associated with the Mission in Health Care and Development. We will be working alongside the traditional midwives; sharing ideas with them, learning from them and the women they serve. Pam will be doing some first aid workshops and our focus is on the immediate needs of the newborn; warmth, breastfeeding, preventing problems, and resuscitation when required.”