Every mother has a story of the birth of their children. Very few of those stories involve having family members perform the delivery less than 2 miles from the clinic. That is the story of one Tanzanian mother as told by Carol McDonald, who founded CHaRA (Construction, Health, and Relief Acts). Gaylyn Quesenberry of ELEOS International was the speaker for the Birthing Hope Tea at Union Street Bistro in Downtown Concord. It was just one of the growing number of examples of how birthing kits are helping curb the high rate of preventable deaths due to childbirth in East Africa.
The purpose of the May 1st tea hosted by CHaRA and ELEOS was to rasie awareness and funding for a birthing kit projects to serve Tanzania. Half of the world's 500,000 deaths per years in child-birth happen in Africa. According to UNICEF, Tanzania has a maternal mortality rate of 470 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2009. The United States has a rate of about 13 deaths per 100,000. The birthing kits contain basic materials to facilitate clean and safe delivery and reduce the risk of deadly infections to the mother and her newborn baby.
Saturdays' tea raised over $6,000. towards the $30,000. annual goal for the birthing kit project. The event was sponsored by several local area businessess: Heather Littrell-Keller Williams Realty, Brenda Shuman- Mary Kay Consultant, Los Arcos Restaurant, Venice Restaurant, Dr. Lori Smith, Marcine Fennel-simply music, Pots of Luck Florist and Heart Gifts by Teresa.