Low birth weight, lack of medical care, and threat of disease and infection are contributors

to high infant mortality.  Also, the national maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world.

Because hospitals are often far away and travel must be made by foot, most expectant mothers

never see a doctor and deliver at home or in a field.  Please consider the following excerpt

from the article titled  What Saves Lives?  Security, Access to Health Services from 

the International Rescue Committee, December 2004. Click on the link to read the entire article.

        Many deaths also stem from complications of pregnancy and child birth. Approximately one in every 15 women dies from     complications in Congo – compared to only one in every 5,600 in the United States. 

    “Women are often delivering babies in the bush with great risk for infections,” Ngoy says. (Dr. Ngoy is IRC’s health coordinator in Congo) 
 

If pregnant mothers attend pre-natal care and nutrition classes, the newborn’s survival rate

increases and the mother's health is improved. The Congo Baby Project was developed

to entice expectant mothers to come to the Bulape Hospital for this information.  A baby pack

containing basic newborn items is given free to each mother-to-be who visits Bulape Hospital.   

Each Baby Pack includes:                                                                                                

          3 heavy cloth diapers                    bonnet and booties

          2 wash cloths                                 2 bars of baby soap                       

          newborn gown or sleeper             receiving blanket

Each complete Baby Pack costs $15.  Donations can be made in any monetary amount or any

items listed above.  Packs are assembled and sent directly to the Congo several times a year.

If your group or organization wishes to create packs  for donation or if you are in the Indianapolis

area, you wish to donate time to help us assemble Baby Packs, please contact us.