There are few things that cause more anguish than a woman dying in childbirth. Or a baby passing away before it has even had a chance to live.

But in many low-income countries like Papua New Guinea where Burnet Institute works, mothers and babies die every day. It happens so often that it’s not a shock. But for every family that it happens to, it’s a heart breaking tragedy.

Just one example of so many, is the story of Aloiesa* and her tiny son, Carlos. Two weeks after he was born, Carlos was still alive, but struggling. His weight had dropped even further to just 1.5kg. He was listless and hardly made any noise.

Sadly, Carlos's story is just one example of so many.

Your gift today will help raise $60,000 toward the pioneering research being done by Burnet in PNG to stop these deaths. It will also help:

• An experienced doctor travel to a remote village to help pregnant mums there.

• Pay for newborn babies like Carlos to be tested for diseases that threaten his life.

• Fund Burnet Institute research into a medical breakthrough, like a vaccine for malaria.

Pregnant women often have several serious diseases and health conditions at once, but still have to work and take care of other children. Here in Australia, we don’t expect women or babies to die during or just after childbirth. But disease and disadvantage stack the odds against people like Aloiesa and Carlos.

Burnet is working towards better access to health care for mothers and their children by conducting innovative medical and public health research, strengthening service delivery systems and empowering communities. But we need your help today.

Please donate today.

Your vital gift will help save mothers and babies like Carlos at the most vulnerable time of their lives.