1. Introduction
At the Collective Empowerment Foundation (CEF), we believe that no mother should have to risk her life simply to bring new life into the world. Yet in the remote regions of Papua New Guinea (PNG), this is the stark reality for countless women facing geographic isolation, financial hardship, and systemic underdevelopment.
In response, CEF proudly launched the Birthing Initiative in July 2025, a transformative partnership with the Western Provincial Health Authority (WPHA) in PNG. Designed to directly tackle some of the world’s highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates, the Birthing Initiative is a blueprint for sustainable, community-driven healthcare support in some of the hardest-to-reach places on earth.
This project represents not only a lifeline for vulnerable mothers, but also a powerful statement of what’s possible when infrastructure, healthcare, and compassion unite.
Project Overview
In remote areas of PNG’s North Fly District, pregnant mothers face two impossible options:
• Risk a dangerous, unsupervised home birth with no medical assistance.
• Attempt an exhausting, multi-day journey to reach distant hospitals like Kiunga District Hospital, arriving isolated, penniless, and unsupported.
Even though the official birthing fee at Kiunga Hospital is relatively low (~50 PGK / 20 AUD), associated costs — transportation, accommodation, food, medical incidentals — are often catastrophic for families living in extreme poverty. These barriers contribute directly to preventable deaths, entrenching PNG’s tragic maternal mortality rates.
The Birthing Initiative breaks this cycle by removing financial, logistical, and social barriers to safe childbirth.
Through a two-tiered support system, we ensure that no mother in North Fly District is forced to deliver alone:
1. Basic Medical Birth Fund:
• Covers hospital birthing fees for up to 200 remote mothers annually.
• Direct financial support, ensuring affordability of safe, medically supervised births.
2. Comprehensive Care Program:
• Targets high-risk cases (~5 mothers annually).
• Provides full support: transport to Kiunga, free accommodation at the CEF Birthing House, meals, antenatal monitoring, hospital delivery support, postnatal care, and a newborn essentials package.
Infrastructure Backbone: The CEF Birthing House
At the heart of the Birthing Initiative is the CEF Birthing House, a traditional raised bush house located just meters from Kiunga District Hospital.
• Size: 10m x 7m with floor-to-ceiling partitioning for privacy.
• Construction: Elevated 50cm off the ground for hygiene and flood protection.
• Developer: Built under budget by Dengxian Engineering, with official quality inspection by North Fly District Health Manager Rody Ukin.
• Facilities: Connected to hospital water and sanitation networks through successful negotiations (avoiding costly independent plumbing).
• Land: Generously donated by the North Fly District Government under an MOU agreement.
The CEF Birthing House is more than a shelter — it is a safe haven where expectant mothers can find support, dignity, and peace of mind in the final days before childbirth.
Why the Birthing Initiative Matters
Maternal mortality is not just a health issue — it’s a human rights crisis. In areas where basic health infrastructure doesn’t reach, invisible barriers like poverty, distance, and cultural isolation become fatal.
The Birthing Initiative provides a holistic solution that:
• Saves lives by ensuring access to safe, supervised deliveries.
• Empowers communities through dignity-driven healthcare support.
• Strengthens local health systems by working in direct partnership with the PNG government.
• Builds sustainability through capacity-building, future transition plans, and community ownership models.
The success of the Birthing Initiative demonstrates what is possible when strategic partnerships, thoughtful infrastructure, and unwavering community support come together.
CEF’s vision is clear: No mother should die giving life. And no community should be left behind in the global journey toward equity and sustainable development.
Project Team Spotlight and Community Voices
Hear Directly from Our Stakeholders
🎥 Real Stories. Real Impact.
Before we introduce the team behind the Birthing Initiative, we invite you to hear directly from the people whose lives and communities have been transformed by this project.
This short stakeholder interview video captures powerful perspectives from:
• A mother who safely delivered her baby through CEF’s support
• A doctor reflecting on improvements in maternal healthcare
• The North Fly District Manager sharing the government’s role and commitment
• The Kiunga District Hospital Manager highlighting the impact on the local health system
[Insert Stakeholder Video Here] (YouTube/Vimeo embed or file upload)
These authentic voices bring the story of the Birthing Initiative to life, showcasing the profound change made possible through partnership, compassion, and community empowerment.
Meet the Person Behind the Birthing Initiative
Tandrew Kai
Project Director and Chief Medical Officer — CEF Birthing Initiative, North Fly District
![Tandrew Kai – Project Director and Chief Medical Officer] (Image placeholder for website)
Tandrew Kai is the beating heart of the Birthing Initiative. Serving as both Project Director and Chief Medical Officer, Tandrew’s leadership ensures that mothers in remote Papua New Guinea receive not just medical assistance, but also respect, dignity, and compassionate care.
Living full-time at the CEF Birthing House adjacent to Kiunga District Hospital, Tandrew is responsible for:
• Daily management of the Birthing House operations.
• Processing referrals from local healthcare workers.
• Overseeing clinical safety, including hygiene, antenatal monitoring, and delivery coordination.
• Providing emotional support and advocacy for mothers throughout their journey.
• Collecting impact data — photos, interviews, health outcomes — for transparent monitoring and evaluation.
• Maintaining partnerships with local hospital staff, health administrators, and the Western Provincial Health Authority.
• Reporting directly to the CEF leadership team to ensure project transparency and effectiveness.
With a background in rural healthcare delivery and maternal health advocacy, Tandrew embodies the values and mission of the Collective Empowerment Foundation: empowering the most remote and underserved communities to thrive.
Contact Information
For inquiries, partnerships, media requests, or further information about the Birthing Initiative, please contact:
Collective Empowerment Foundation (CEF)
📍 Registered Office (Australia):
Level 14, 5 Martin Place, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
📍 Project Office (Papua New Guinea):
CEF Birthing House, Adjacent to Kiunga District Hospital, North Fly District, Western Province, Papua New Guinea
📞 Phone: +61 2 8005 1234 (Australia Office)
📧 Email: info@collectiveempowermentfoundation.org
🌐 Website: www.collectiveempowermentfoundation.org
3. Project Resources and How to Support
Access the Full Project Documentation
For full transparency and deeper insight into the Birthing Initiative’s structure, budget, and long-term goals, please see the following documents:
📄 Birthing Initiative Project Proposal (PDF)
[Download the full proposal here] (Placeholder link — upload PDF)
📊 Birthing Initiative Budget Overview (Excel)
[Download the detailed budget here] (Placeholder link — upload Excel file)
📄 Formal Birthing Initiative Master Plan (PDF)
[Access the complete master plan here] (Placeholder link — upload PDF)
These resources provide comprehensive breakdowns of the project’s scope, financial structure, sustainability strategy, and risk mitigation protocols.
Make a Difference — Partner with Us
The Birthing Initiative is made possible by the generosity of individuals, partners, and donors who believe that every mother deserves a safe birth.
Your support directly funds:
• Hospital birthing fees for remote mothers.
• Transport and accommodation for high-risk pregnancies.
• Nutritious meals for expectant mothers.
• Safe, dignified spaces for pre- and postnatal care.
• Essential newborn care packages.
• Ongoing maternal health monitoring and advocacy.
Ways You Can Help:
🔹 Donate: Every dollar directly supports mothers in need.
🔹 Partner: Organizations can sponsor a mother, a birth, or an entire regional expansion.
🔹 Advocate: Help spread the word about the Birthing Initiative to raise awareness of maternal health challenges in remote regions.
➡️ [Donate Now] (Button link to CEF donations page)
➡️ [Partner With Us] (Button link to partnership inquiries)
Together, we can save lives, empower communities, and ensure that no woman is forced to face childbirth alone.
Summary: Why the Birthing Initiative Matters
Maternal mortality in remote Papua New Guinea is not an inevitability — it is a solvable crisis.
Through the Birthing Initiative, the Collective Empowerment Foundation is showing the world that sustainable, culturally sensitive, community-driven healthcare interventions are not only possible but transformational.
With every mother we support, with every life we save, we move closer to a world where no one is left behind.
🌍 Thank you for being part of this journey.
