SUMMER, 2010
In this issue:
• Expanding Patient Treatment in Harar, Ethiopia
• Dr. Mukwege, founder of Panzi Hospital, honored in New York
• One Woman's Story: Cipriana in Angola
• Eva Hausman Opens Hearts, Minds and Wallets for Fistula Foundation
• New York Times highlights Foundationšs role in fighting fistula
• Inspiring High School Student spreads the word about fistula
• ATHENA International honors Foundation grantee
• Dr. Hamlin in Ethiopia receives Lifetime Achievement Award
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Fighting Fistula in Cameroon and Senegal
Foundation joins forces with Women and Health Alliance (WAHA) to treat more women in Africa
The Fistula Foundation is thrilled to be partnering with the Women and Health Alliance (WAHA) to support new fistula treatment programs in the African nations of Cameroon and Senegal. Founded by Dr. Sinan Khaddaj in 2009, formerly with Doctors Without Borders, WAHA is dedicated to improving maternal health in developing countries.
Cameroon: With a population of 14.3 million and one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region, Cameroon is in definite need of improved maternal health care facilities generally and fistula treatment programs specifically. In response to this need, WAHA is upgrading the surgical care structure in the capital of Yaounde, and training five Cameroonian surgeons to treat fistula, and supporting a community awareness campaign to encourage women to seek treatment. We estimate that 300 women will be treated in the first year alone. WAHA is using grant support from the Foundation but is also contributing their own funds creating a true partnership of shared financial responsibility. We'll keep you updated on this exciting effort.
Senegal: In Senegal, a country of 12 million people, the maternal mortality rate is high—particularly in the Eastern portion of the country near the Sahara desert. Thus, this WAHA and Foundation project will focus on that area, known as the Kedougou region. The plan is to train three surgeons, one anesthesiologist, one physiotherapist and two social workers, and to upgrade the operating room in the Kedougou Hospital. We estimate at least 100-150 fistula repairs will be done in 2010 alone, with more to come in future years.
Fistula Foundation meeting with WAHA staff, led by Dr. Sinan Khaddaj, at WAHA headquarters, Paris, France
Expanding Patient Treatment in Harar, Ethiopia
Hospital funded by Foundation expands facility
Two years ago the new Hamlin Fistula Hospital opened in the Eastern Ethiopian city of Harar. The Hospital was financed entirely by a grant from the Fistula Foundation and its Tesfe Ineste program, led by Ethiopian-Americans. In addition, the Foundation funded construction of a guest house and patients' waiting hostel in Harar that are now nearly completed. This new facility will free up valuable bed space in the surgical ward so that more patients can be accommodated. This will increase the bed availability and capacity in the main surgical ward. The guest house provides accommodation for visiting doctors, researchers and staff. Many thanks to our many donors for funding this new facility.
The addition of Foundation funded services in these two West African countries - Cameroon and Senegal, means the Foundation will now be supporting treatment efforts in nine countries. Many thanks go to all of our generous donors who enable the treatment of more otherwise forgotten women in more places.
New Patient Waiting Hostel and Guest House, Harar, Ethiopia
In March, Dr. Denis Mukwege traveled to New York to participate in the global Women in the World conference sponsored by Tina Brown's Daily Beast and Washington, DC-based Vital Voices. Dr. Mukwege was featured in a discussion led by correspondent Christiane Amanpour about the war in Congo and the sexual violence, including gang rape, where rape is used as a tool of war. Dr. Mukwege described the work of his team to heal women, many suffering from fistula. A reception was held to honor Dr. Mukwege at the home of Fistula Foundation board member, Robert Tessler. Guests were inspired to hear Dr. Mukwege's account of his work and the gratitude he expressed to Fistula Foundation donors for supporting his efforts to heal broken bodies and spirits.
Dr. Mukwege honored at reception, left to right, Madam Therese Kulungu (Congolese Human Rights lawyer), Liya Kebede, Kassy Kebede (Foundation Board Chair),James Capalino (long-term Foundation supporter), Whitney Tilson (Foundation Board Member), Susan Tilson, Kate Grant (Foundation Executive Director)
Board of Directors
Abaynesh Asrat |
Gerald Shefren, MD |
One Woman's Story: Cipriana in Angola
A life transformed by fistula surgery
At 16, Cipriana had a failed pregnancy following a long labor. Her baby died and she sustained a very large fistula during a traditional birthing process, meaning a home delivery with no trained medical staff present. Her condition quickly led to abandonment by her husband. She was returned to the care of her mother, but was forced to live outside her home village due to her odor and the stigma associated with fistula. For a decade she had been a social outcast without hope of reintegration into her village.
Her life changed when Fistula Foundation grantee, Dr. Stephen Foster of CEML (Centro Evangelico de Medicina de Lubango), visited the Cavango Mission clinic near Cipriana's village. Cipriana visited the clinic and was seen by Dr. Foster. He arranged for an air lift for Cipriana and her mother to travel to Lubango, 300 miles away, and stay at the Patient village and have her fistula repaired. After a successful surgery and recovery Cipriana and her mother returned home to what is expected to be a normal and productive life in her village.
Eva Hausman Opens Hearts, Minds and Wallets for Fistula Foundation
Foundation Circle of Friends volunteer, Eva Hausman
Eva Hausman is a busy woman, but not so busy that she didn't take time to help many women less fortunate than herself. When Eva heard about fistula, she joined the Foundation's Circle of Friends program - a simple, free effort to help our supporters raise funds for fistula treatment from their friends. Eva sent an email to her own broad and deep circle of friends, asking each to contribute at least $20. Eva's efforts were featured by Nicholas Kristof in his column (see below). Since that column Eva has raised even more funds to fight fistula, bringing her total to $9,826. Many Thanks, Eva!
New York Times highlights Foundation's role in fighting fistula
The New York Times
Sunday Opinion SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2010
NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Celebrate: Save A Mother
Happy Mother's Day! And let me be clear: I'm in favor of flowers, lavish brunches, and every other token of gratitude for mothers and other goddesses.
Let me also add that your mom — yes, I'm speaking to you — is particularly deserving. (As is mine, as is my wife. And my mother-in-law!)
And because so many people feel that way, some 14 billion will be spent in the United States for Mother's Day this year, according to the National Retail Federation. That includes $2.9 billion in meals, $2.5 billion in jewelry and $1.9 billion in flowers.
To put that sum in context, it's enough to pay for a primary school education for all 60 million girls around the world who aren't attending school. That would pretty much end female illiteracy.
These numbers are fuzzy and uncertain, but it appears that there would be enough money left over for programs to reduce deaths in childbirth by about three-quarters, saving perhaps 260,000 women's lives a year.
There would probably even be enough remaining to treat tens of thousands of young women suffering from one of the most terrible things that can happen to a person, a childbirth injury called an obstetric fistula. Fistulas leave women incontinent and dribbling wastes, turning them into pariahs — and the injuries are usually fixable with a $450 operation.
So let's celebrate Mother's Day with all the flowers and brunches we can muster: no reason to feel guilty about a dollop of hedonism to compensate for 365 days of maternal toil. But let's also think about moving the apostrophe so that it becomes not just Mother's Day, honoring a single mother, but Mothers' Day — an occasion to try to help other mothers around the globe as well…
Maternal mortality is far more common in Africa and Asia. In the West African country of Niger, a woman has about a one-in-seven lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy complications. Women there often aren't supposed to go to a doctor if the husband hasn't granted express permission — so if he's 100 miles away when she has labor complications, she may just die at home…
Just the money that Americans will spend on Mother's Day greeting cards for today — about $670 million — would save the lives of many thousands of women.
Many organizations do wonderful work in this area, from the giants like CARE and Save the Children to the tiny Edna Maternity Hospital in Somaliland. Women Deliver and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood do important advocacy work. And the Fistula Foundation and Worldwide Fistula Fund help women who have obstetric fistulas. (Details are on my blog, nytimes.com/ontheground)…
I had a letter the other day from a woman in Connecticut, Eva Hausman, who was so appalled when she learned about obstetric fistulas that she e-mailed her friends and asked them to contribute at least $20. To date she has raised $9,000 for the Fistula Foundation.
"Most of the contributions were accompanied by thank-you notes," she told me. When people thank you for allowing them to donate — that's truly a heartwarming cause, and a beautiful way to celebrate Mothers' Day.
ATHENA International honors Foundation grantee
Dr. Mulu Muleta of WAHA, pictured with Dr. Carole Leland,
Athena International
Board Member and Kate Grant, Fistula Foundation
Executive Director at the
Awards Dinner in Chicago, April 2010
Dr. Mulu Muleta of Ethiopia receives 2010 Global ATHENA Leadership Award
ATHENA is known internationally for supporting, honoring and developing women leaders. At its annual Summit, ATHENA presents the Global ATHENA Leadership Award to a woman who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in her profession, provides valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community, actively assists women in achieving their full leadership potential and whose body of work has national or international significance. Dr. Mulu Muleta, the Senior Medical Advisor to Foundation grantee, Women and Health Alliance International, received the award at the 16th Annual ATHENA Women's Leadership Summit on April 5, in Chicago. Dr. Muleta trained as an obstetric surgeon in Ethiopia, and earned a Masters degree in Public Health at the Institute of Antwerp in Belgium and holds a PhD from Bergen in Norway. She was formerly the Medical Director of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, where she was trained by Dr. Catherine Hamlin. Congratulations, Mulu!
Dr. Hamlin in Ethiopia receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Catherine Hamlin
Dr. Catherine Hamlin, the Founder of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the organization People to People. The conference was held in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa at the Intercontinental Hotel. The conference, titled "Empowering Women is Empowering a Nation" recognized Dr. Hamlin for her dedicated life long service to improving the lives of women in Ethiopia. The Foundation is honored to be the largest financial supporter of the Hospital network Dr. Hamlin founded.
Inspiring High School Student Spreads the word about Fistula
Three years ago, Danielle Polland was in Middle School. She was so moved by the plight of fistula victims she organized a fundraising effort at her school. At that point, we asked her to please stay in touch with us. We're delighted to report that over the last three years Danielle's commitment to helping women with fistula, and other women in developing countries who are victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment has grown. Now a junior in High School, she founded the Action for Women Club at her High School, Great Neck North. As part of her efforts, she's served as an informal ambassador for the Fistula Foundation, giving talks to local groups, such as the Rotary Clubs in her area, and collecting donations from her community. It is inspiring to see such a big heart and determined spirit in one so young. We have a feeling that with Danielle, the best is likely yet to come. Thanks, Danielle for your pioneering efforts and to your mom, Diane - since behind every great child is usually a great mom.
Danielle Polland addresses Rotary Club in Great Neck, New York about fistula