Over many years Rotarians around the world have worked in partnership with Freedom From Fistula to offer invaluable support to the charity. In particular, GG1411138 provided funding for the 3 year training of 60 nurse midwife technicians in Malawi and GG1525603 funded the purchase of 2 landcruisers kitted out as ambulances which provide a lifeline for the team in Malawi, enabling them to reach patients in the most remote and rural parts of the country. GG1981430 helped us improve fistula, maternity and child healthcare in Sierra Leone and we are delighted in 2021/2022 to continue to work in partnership with Rotarians supporting our work in both Malawi and Sierra Leone.
Freedom From Fistula provide a variety of services to women and children in Africa including; providing fistula surgery, patient ambassador training, patient rehabilitation and family planning; offering pre and post natal care, safe deliveries and health education; providing primary health care, immunisations, teenage hostel and parenting classes to teenagers and vulnerable young adults; providing literacy and numeracy skills, health education, small enterprise training and income generation projects; building capacity, providing medical staff training, community education and compassionate care training; and providing medical care, counselling services and social work support to victims of sexual and gender based violence.
On the 23rd of September Rotary and Freedom From Fistula are hosting an online zoom event 'A Conversation with Freedom From Fistula' - Serving to Change Lives - the difference you make transforming the lives of women and children in Africa. Rotarians will hear first hand from the teams on the ground, from Rotarians on how and why they became involved with our work and from the FFF team on how continued support will enable us to help more women like Emily.
Emily was married at the age of 18 and lived with fistula for 14 years following complications during the birth of her 6th baby.
Emily was devastated until she received a visit from one of our former fistula patient ambassadors. She was brought to our Fistula Care Centre in Malawi where she received treatment. Emily is now FISTULA FREE.
During her stay at the centre Emily attended our educational classes as part of our Patient Rehabilitation Education Programme (PREP). She was especially fond of the numeracy, literacy and business classes and gained knowledge she was able to use to help make her new business enterprises a success.
To ensure our patients have as many opportunities to go back into society and succeed and thrive in life we offer a number of initiatives including Solar Charging Stations, Reusable Sanitary Pad and Patient Ambassador programmes.
Emily received a solar charging station that she can use to charge phones. The profit from her small enterprise has allowed her to purchase pigs which she can sell locally. Emily was also selected to be one of the former patients to make reusable sanitary pads in her home district. She received a manual sewing machine and some start up materials. Emily sells her pads in schools and at womens gatherings. Her income helps support the family and raise them out of poverty, provide funds to educate her children and Emily hopes to save enough to one day build another house for her family.
After Emily was discharged she felt the need to help other woman facing the same problem she had. She started sharing her experience during womens gatherings and has now been trained as a patient ambassador. To date she has brought 11 patients to our centre, all of whom have been cured.
I never thought I could gain so much from suffering from fistula. In a way this has been a blessing to me because I have a few businesses that the Fistula Care Centre made possible for me. I am grateful to Freedom From Fistula for all the things they have done for me and for curing me. I am fistula free and I have peace in my life. Please continue the good work you are doing, you have transformed my life. God bless you always
To see the impact on the lives of women and children watch our Shout Gladi Gladi video
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