The Cook Islands Party candidate Vaine Wichman says the welfare of children and mothers was one of five objectives she set herself going into the general election.
Ms Wichman an international economist, who is the sitting member for Ruaau , is contesting her third election, and is confident of a return when the polls close on Tuesday night local time.
She says setting up clinics for mothers and babies is easy but there is no infrastructure in place.
"If we have a healthy family, we have a healthy community, we have a healthy nation. So I looked at the child welfare clinics and I realised I can help, I can help by supporting the mamas and their activities relating to the babies. That's all part of life anyway. But more so the infrastructure around these clinics were not been given the prominence that they deserve in national development. Generally, people go to schools to have hospitals, but also the small steps that child welfare clinics make are very important."
The Cook Islands Party candidate Vaine Wichman.
