Jul 28, 2008 (DVB), A shelter funded by Human Right Defenders and Promoters to provide antenatal care to pregnant women in Irrawaddy’s Bogalay township has successfully assisted in its first delivery of a baby boy.

The shelter was founded by HRDP member Ma Myint Myint Mu, who has been involved in relief work in the region since the cyclone.

Ma Win Khine, who lost most of her family including her husband and son in the May cyclone, gave birth to her second baby son on 11 July, Myint Myint Mu said.

"Thirteen of her 19 family members were killed in the cyclone including her husband and her 4-year-old son while she survived by clinging onto a tree," said Myint Myint Mu.

"We brought her to our shelter and a professional midwife helped deliver the child."

She said the baby was named Maung Kyaw Htet Aung, in memory of his father Ko Kyaw Moe Thu.

Myint Myint Mu said the shelter is located on 34 and 5th street in Bogalay’s ward (4) and has four women providing health care and nursing assistance to the pregnant woman.

Ten more pregnant women have applied for antenatal care at the shelter and will be brought to the house closer to their due dates.

Women from other villages who cannot afford to travel to Bogalay will be provided with assistance at their homes during delivery, Myint Myint Mu said.

"These women were struggling for money before the cyclone hit and now they have been left with no money to afford to give birth in hospital," she said.

"We have promised to provide assistance to them."

Myint Myint Mu said each delivery costs around 200,000 kyat and the shelter would accept any help to be provided directly to the expectant mothers.

Reporting by Aye Nai