By Dr. Esther Njoroge-Muriithi, chief growth officer, Fistula Foundation
When I stepped into the room at Nkwen Baptist Hospital in Bamenda, Cameroon, I expected to meet six incredible women—women who had undergone successful fistula treatment and returned simply to say “thank you” to Fistula Foundation. I was prepared for an emotional encounter; after all, I’ve sat in similar rooms before, each filled with stories of pain turned into hope.
But nothing prepared me for what came next.
The first person I saw was Claudine (pictured above)—and I recognized her immediately. Her photo had been shared in a report from our partner Mbingo Baptist Hospital, a sister hospital to Nkwen. She radiated joy as she stood, her smile lighting up the room. “I have a poem for you,” she declared. Instinctively, I reached for my phone, knowing this was a moment worth capturing.
Then she spoke.
Her voice trembled slightly, but her words were powerful, heartfelt, and filled with emotion. The weight of what she had endured, and the deep, overwhelming gratitude she now felt, washed over the room. I was completely unprepared for the tears that filled my eyes—tears of joy, of shared healing, of witnessing something beautiful. She said she had been wishing to thank somebody for what was done for her. Even though she has volunteered and spoken on radio to encourage other women to seek treatment, she felt that wasn’t enough.
Today, I am honored to share her poem, and her gratitude, with you.
A Poem of Gratitude by Claudine
In shadows deep, where silence lay, a light emerged, brightening the way. With gentle hands and hearts of gold, you mend the stories once left untold.
Through valleys of pain, your kindness flows, restoring hope where despair once grows. With every stitch of a life reborn, you lift the burden, the shame, the scorn.
For every woman who walks anew a testament to the love you imbue. With courage and grace, you stand beside. A beacon of hope, our steadfast guide.
Together we rise, hand in hand, building the future, a healing land. With gratitude deep, we honor your role, for you are the light that restores souls.
Thank you for all you do, for the gift of life, for the strength you imbue.
In the tapestry of lives, you weave, A legacy of hope, for all who believe.
Claudine is a teacher. She spoke candidly about the months of isolation that fistula had forced upon her. She often skipped work on the days she couldn’t afford pads, choosing instead to spend her days farming alone near the forest, where no one could see her. She described the shame of waiting until her neighbors left their homes just so she could discreetly hang her bedding out to dry, praying no one would ask questions.
Fistula Foundation reinitiated support for fistula treatment in Cameroon in April 2024. The need was, and still is, immense—especially in Northwest Cameroon, where civil strife and insecurity compound the struggles women already face. I knew from past work how vital it would be to support the work in this country.
Our partnership with Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services—an umbrella organization overseeing both Mbingo and Nkwen Baptist Hospitals—couldn’t have come at a better time. Just as previous funding for fistula treatment in the region was ending, Fistula Foundation stepped in. In only one year, 55 women have already received treatment. With continued support, that number will grow into the hundreds.
CBC Health Services serves eight of Cameroon’s 10 regions, forming a powerful referral network that connects women suffering in silence to the treatment they deserve.
As Claudine so eloquently shared in her poem:
“Together we rise, hand in hand, building the future, a healing land.”
If you are interested in supporting more women like Claudine, you can give now to our Love a Sister program, which directly funds surgeries for women across Africa and Asia. Through Mother’s Day (May 11), all gifts* will be MATCHED—up to a total of $200,000—to support Love a Sister.
*To increase access to matching funds, the first $20,000 of your donation will be doubled.
Published on April 22, 2025.