Padraic Murphy; 29/10/08
Expectant indigenous mothers on Cape York will receive $1000 baby packs as part of a groundbreaking campaign to improve prenatal and postnatal care in remote communities. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said yesterday the packs would drastically increase the health of the 300 babies born across Cape York every year, and their mothers. “Over the next two months, the baby baskets will be rolled out in at least four priority communities in Cape York, giving mothers vital education and tools to help them through pregnancy and the birth of their babies,” Ms Bligh said. The Australian revealed in July that the Queensland Government had been urged to consider the move by doctors Lara Wieland and Richard Heazlewood, who had forged their careers in indigenous health. The doctors told a Cairns medical conference that early childhood care in remote communities needed to be overhauled, as not only was the baby bonus often squandered, but it was a trigger for domestic assault.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24568434-5013172,00.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Domestic Violence, health