Why We Work in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, less than one half of births are registered, and only a third of Zimbabwean children have a birth certificate. According to our hospital partners, this indicates that many births are taking place outside of health facilities, and suggests maternal mortality and complication rates are much higher than what is reported.
Rural women bear the heaviest share of the suffering. There are few physicians and even fewer gynecologists in isolated areas, and community awareness about fistula is very low. With so few resources, Zimbabwean women will continue to develop fistula in childbirth— and the country already faces an enormous backlog of fistula patients. There is a tremendous need to build healthcare capacity and help Zimbabwean women who are suffering, many for years on end.
What You Help Us Do
We are investing in the following areas to build Zimbabwe’s in-country medical services and provide life-transforming surgery to as many women as possible:
Meet Our Partners
We identify local surgical teams in Zimbabwe already successfully treating women with fistula—and then work to amplify their efforts.
Artemedis
- Location: Mashoko, Mutambara, Masvingo, and Karoi
- Partner Since: 2019
Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA International)
- Location: Harare and Chinhoyi
- Partner In: 2013 – 2017
Below are funding totals since the start of each partnership.
Current Partners
- Artemedis: $723,154
Past Partners:
- Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA International): $954,550