Safe Motherhood Ambassadors
Our partner Healing Hands of Joy’s mission is to improve maternal and child healthcare in Ethiopia and eliminate preventable childbirth injuries, including obstetric fistula.
This devastating childbirth injury causes an internal tear or hole in the delicate tissue between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum, leading to chronic incontinence. It often occurs following a prolonged, obstructed labour. Many women, unaware that their injury can be treated, are left facing a future of incontinence, pain and isolation.
Healing Hands of Joy work to:
- prevent obstetric fistula, by raising awareness of the causes and helping women access maternal healthcare
- find women who are living with obstetric fistula, supporting them to get treatment
- support women who are recovering, helping them reintegrate in their community
Through their Safe Motherhood Ambassador programme, women who have been cured return to their communities to find other women living with fistula and educate expectant mothers on safe delivery.
Quftu is one of the inspirational Safe Motherhood Ambassadors. Her ‘family tree’ of the women she has helped shows the incredible impact of their work. These brave, inspirational women who have experienced the trauma of living with fistula are determined other women should not experience the same.
Bontu
After Bontu was cured of her fistula injury she was determined to return to school. She had studied up to grade six, but had to leave her education very young following an arranged marriage at the age of 13.
Bontu developed obstetric fistula after the birth of her second child. Ramatie found her and helped her access treatment and support through Healing Hands of Joy. Following her successful operation, Bontu decided she also wanted to train to become a Safe Motherhood Ambassador. Furthermore, the time she spent with the other women at the centre inspired her to go back to school and finish her education.
However, when she told her husband of her plans to continue her education and help other women living with obstetric fistula, he did not want her to. She explained how important it was to her to help other women to access treatment, because she had made a promise, but still he refused.
Her father stood up for her, but her husband left her.
Determined to keep learning
Since her husband left her and their two children, Bontu’s father has stood by her and supported them, helping her keep her promise.
Bontu is now a grade 8 student. While studying and caring for her two children, she has already found and supported six women to seek treatment, including Rahima.
When she finishes school, she would like to become a Health Extension Worker. If she manages to continue her education further, she hopes to one day become a medical doctor.
Pictured: Safe Motherhood Ambassadors’ graduation ceremonies and community outreach work – raising awareness about obstetric fistula and accessing maternal healthcare.
Rahima
The support Rahima received from Bontu was life-saving.
“I used to cry often. I hid myself from everyone, I stopped participating in any of the social gatherings, even church.”
Not knowing that her obstetric fistula injury could be treated, Rahima suffered from severe depression. Her husband’s work meant he was away from home, and she struggled to care for their three older children and newborn baby. Rahima had lost hope, until Bontu found her and brought her to Healing Hands of Joy.
“I learned about fistula and Healing Hands of Joy from SMA Bontu. My first surgery was successful and I am happy. I really thank her next to God.”
Rahima explained how, when she was living with fistula, she no longer felt equal with other human beings. She went from being a very sociable person to avoiding contact with other people. She felt isolated and alone.
During her time training with Healing Hands of Joy, the team have seen how much she has regained her confidence. Her strength in making people feel better when they are struggling shines through. Now Rahima is looking forward to putting her training in practice to help more women.
“When I go back home, I want to support the women in my village to prevent them from obstetric fistula. I see that there is a bright future for me going forward and I look forward to that.”
Find out more
Hear from two of our wonderful maternal health partners, Healing Hands of Joy and Hope of Light. Find out more about the inspiring Safe Motherhood Ambassadors and what a fistula operation means for the women our partners are able to reach thanks to your support.
