Confirmation Content
In rural areas especially, there are simply not enough maternal health services for pregnant women. Only one-third of women receive adequate antenatal care and an even fewer 16% will have a health professional on hand when they give birth.
This is a leading reason why more than 3,000 women develop obstetric fistula each year – an internal childbirth tear from a prolonged and obstructed labour. Not only does fistula often result in stillbirth, it leaves a woman incontinent, shunned by her community and living alone in pain and fear.
Confirmation Content
Fistula is both preventable and curable – and you can be part of the solution today. Our on-the-ground partners have a three-part approach to treat, prevent and reintegrate cases of fistula across Ethiopia:
Confirmation Content
Confirmation Content
Confirmation Content
Confirmation Content
Confirmation Content
Confirmation Content
When 32-year-old Aberash went into labour, there was no doctor nearby so she had to give birth at home. After three agonising days, she lost her baby and developed fistula. “I was hiding myself. I was not drinking enough water for fear of urine leakage. My neighbours isolated me. I became hopeless.”
Aberash lived in misery for 15 months. It was thanks to a travelling Safe Motherhood Ambassador that she not only learnt her condition could be cured and was assisted in getting life-changing fistula surgery, but had the chance to train as a Safe Motherhood Ambassador.
Today Aberash is committed to finding and helping other women suffering from fistula. Through her, you're creating a ripple effect of change in the fight against fistula.
Confirmation Content
Healing Hands of Joy (HHOJ) work to identify, refer and rehabilitate women living with obstetric fistula plus break down the social stigma behind fistula.
They train former fistula patients as Safe Motherhood Ambassadors who identify new fistula cases and educate about safe pregnnancy. They also host community workshops, religious leader training, film screenings and male sensitivity training to increase community awareness and support.
Confirmation Content
The Women and Health Alliance (WAHA) operate three hospitals or health centres across Ethiopia that provide free obstetric fistula surgeries for women in need.
While fistula surgery is a key part of their work, WAHA also work to raise awareness in remote areas, provide transport to women and train more medical professionals in the treatment and post-operative care of fistula.
Confirmation Content