A group of eight dedicated midwives and nurses from Mater Mothers’ Hospital in South Bank are preparing for a volunteer mission that promises to be a life-changing experience. They are set to travel to Nepal, where they will assist local healthcare providers in offering critical services to women and children.
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The group is led by Clinical Midwife and Nurse Kerrie Bull, a veteran at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, known as Australia's busiest maternity unit. With over thirty years of experience and involvement in the delivery of thousands of babies, Kerrie is passionate about sharing her expertise with healthcare professionals in one of the world’s most underserved regions.
Cultural Exchange and Learning
During their stay, the Australian team will work closely with Nepalese midwives to provide labour support, maternal and fetal monitoring, delivery assistance, and post-natal care. Kerrie highlighted the educational aspect of the trip, noting the opportunity to learn from a different healthcare system and cultural practices.
Kerrie expressed concern over the high rates of neonatal mortality in Nepal due to conditions like sepsis and preterm births.
"Being able to assist Nepalese women in remote communities who might not have access to essential healthcare services is a profound responsibility and privilege,” she emphasised the importance of their mission.
Mater Midwives (L-R) Gracie Hemer, Kerrie Bull, Olivia O'Beirne and Alexandra MackPhoto Credit: Supplied/Richard Walker/RDW Photography
Extensive Outreach
The team's itinerary by November includes several locations. They will start in Kathmandu, working with Nurses in Action and visiting World Youth International projects. The journey will continue to Pokhara and a remote highland village, where they will engage in health training and run a health camp expected to serve up to 200 individuals in a single day.
For Kerrie, the mission fulfils a long-held dream of volunteering overseas, which she has harboured since her nursing career began 44 years ago. She hopes to share her knowledge and skills with the Nepalese, enhance their health outcomes, and learn from their unique approaches to education and healthcare.
Community Support
Each member of the group has a fundraising target of $1,850, which will support World Youth International's projects in Nepal and Kenya. Additional funds raised will contribute towards clean birth kits and programs to assist women with post-birth complications.
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Kerri Gane, General Manager of Mater Mothers’ Hospitals, commended the group's dedication.
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"Our frontline heroes are committed to supporting one another and providing the best possible care to our patients every day. To know they will work together and strive for the same outcome in Nepal is incredible," she said.
Published 23-May-2024
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