Currently, 57 out of every 1000 children born in PNG die before they reach the age of five. Australian Doctors International (ADI) focuses on improving this sombre statistic by providing primary healthcare – especially child and maternal healthcare – and community health training services.

When Sister Elsie, one of PNG's rural healthcare workers, arrived at work one morning for a 9am obstetrics training session with ADI's volunteer doctor, she never imagined that what she was about to learn would help save three lives just a few hours later.

The topic of the training – breech delivery – was in response to recent incidents at the local District Hospital in New Ireland Province, that had tragically resulted in stillbirths.

Minutes after the training ended, a mother named Lonnie arrived at the rural health clinic in labour. Lonnie hadn't had any prenatal check-ups and so didn't know she was carrying twins or that they were in the breech position.

Despite the absence of power and water, Sister Elsie was able to deliver the first baby without any assistance. "Because of ADI's education session that morning, I felt confident about doing the delivery," she says.

The second twin initially wasn't breathing and required resuscitation, which Sister Elsie and the other nurses were able to perform promptly and efficiently thanks to her training. "I feel lucky that the ADI doctor was there to help," recalls Lonnie.

Australian Doctors International (ADI) works locally in partnership with the PNG government, private companies and faith-based health providers, and is supported through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).