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Afya Foundation, a Yonkers-based global health organization, and WESTMED Medical Group have begun collecting gently used baby supplies as part of a health initiative in honor of Mother’s Day.
The supplies, which will be collected at WESTMED locations in Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle and Rye, will be packaged and delivered as “birth kits” to mothers in African nations such as Malawi and Liberia.
Organizers say the project, called Wazazi - the Swahili word for “parents” – is meant to save the lives of mothers and infants by giving midwives and mom-to-be the needed supplies.
Ninety-nine percent of maternal deaths occur in the developing world, said Danielle Butin, founder and executive director of Afya. But with simple solutions, many childbirth deaths can be prevented.
“This Wazazi community-based effort will enable local moms to act globally and make a difference for women and their newborn babies,” Butin said in a statement.
The full list of needed supplies includes: medical gloves, plastic sheets, baby blankets, infants’ hooded towels, baby hats, hand sanitizer, plastic bags, rain ponchos and rain boots for midwives.
To get more details about the Wazazi women’s health initiative, go to http://www.afyafoundation.org/wazazi-supporting-maternal-health.html or call (914) 920-5081.
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