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YOUR IMPACT
Current projects in East Africa
HER DIGNITY FUND
Every woman matters.
Providing lifesaving maternal healthcare and fistula repair in Africa
Around the world, 786 women die every day trying to have a baby. The majority of these deaths occur in Africa. For every mother that dies, another 20 women suffer a birthing injury like an obstetric fistula. Find out more.
The Barbara May Foundation facilitates free high-quality maternal healthcare for poor and vulnerable women.
Hear Paulina’s story of giving birth, suffering with a fistula, and finding hope once more.
Our Priorities
Fistula Repair
We seek to honour women’s dignity and restore their agency through specialised obstetric fistula repair operations.
Fistula Prevention
When a woman has access to antenatal screening and checkups, as well as high quality medical care with midwives and doctors in a fully-equipped maternity hospital, she can face childbirth with confidence and hope.
Doctor and Midwife Training
Equipping and upskilling local doctors, nurses, midwives and fistula surgeons ensures better care for women across Africa – for the long term.
Your support means we can provide these services free of charge for Africa’s poorest and most vulnerable women.
Areas of Impact in Africa
Interactive Map
We facilitate safe and caring maternal healthcare, including programs to prevent obstetric fistula, through implementing partner organisations.
Tap a location to learn more.
Northern Tanzania
Kivulini Maternity Centre
Arusha, Tanzania
- 59-bed maternity hospital
- 24-bed obstetric fistula treatment unit
- 14-bed neo-natal unit
- Midwife training centre
More Details
Afar Region, Ethiopia
Barbara May Maternity Hospital
Mille, Ethiopia
- 35-bed maternity hospital
- Rural maternity health network and emergency services for nomadic women from the Afar region
- Obstetric fistula camps
More Details
Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Vision Maternity Care Hospital
Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- 28-bed maternity centre
- Midwifery student training
Central Tanzania
Phaedra Hospital (Maternity Centre)
Chamwino, Tanzania
Hospital currently under construction.
More Details
Central African Republic
Obstetric Fistula Surgery Camps
Galo, Central African Republic
More Details
Northern Uganda
Click on the map above, or find more information below.
Barbara May Maternity Hospital, Ethiopia
Valerie Browning AM
Vision Maternity Care Hospital, Ethiopia
Dr Birhanu Member
Kivulini Maternity Centre, Tanzania
Dr Doreen David Moshi
Latest News & Articles
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Hope’s Story: Against All Odds
When Hope was barely a teenager, she was sent away from her family home to marry a man in a...
Amondi’s Story: Ten Hours from Help
Amondi, the eldest of five children, has never been to school. She's worked in the fields digging,...
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A huge thanks to all the cooks behind the incredible food served at our partner hospitals – whether they’re keeping the construction crew energised or nourishing sick patients.
And we can attest – the food always gets a thumbs up from us and a big smile from our patients!
We are supporting some upcoming fistula treatment programs – hoping to operate on at least 100 more women who have been suffering with a fistula injury, in Central African Republic, South Sudan and Tanzania.
Is there anything you’d like to know about fistula campaigns, injuries or treatment?
Let us know! Comment below or send us a DM, and we will answer your question or turn common q’s into new posts.
#endfistula #fistulatreatment #womenshealth #australiancharity
Maternal healthcare doesn’t end when the baby is born.
At each of our supported hospitals, mothers and babies are encouraged to come back for postnatal checkups and early childhood vaccinations.
Here Caritas, one of the dedicated postnatal clinic nurses, is making sure each mama and her baby are doing well at our supported hospital in Tanzania.
#maternalhealth #EndFistula
Reliable power matters in a hospital. It’s why we’ve worked this year to ensure our supported hospitals, and our fistula treatment teams, don’t have to worry about power outages.
In Central African Republic you’ve supported the hospital to have 2 generators. In Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, you’ve supported the installation of solar panels. In Tanzania, Kivulini continues to be supported with solar panels. Both new hospital builds – in Uganda and in central Tanzania – will have solar from day one.
Little things we take for granted make a huge difference for our partners in Africa.
Please donate today - link in bio.
#maternalhealth
What comes after a hospital is built? A football field of course!
Local women are transplanting grass and laying seeds, while the doctors are already planning some friendly competition outside of their shifts.
With @tekworofoundation
This is what fistula prevention looks like…. Another proud mother enjoying newborn snuggles 🥰
Every day, together, we’re enabling vulnerable women to give birth safely, at no cost, and giving babies the best start to life.
Thank you for your faithful giving 🧡
📷Kivulini Maternity Centre @maternityafrica
After fistula surgery and during recovery, life continues.
Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury, but healing is not just physical.
Safe spaces, rest, and community are all part of the journey back to dignity 🧡
#endfistula #fistulaawareness #maternalhealth #charity
We met Amondi recently in South Sudan, where she was treated for an obstetric fistula.
Amondi was fifteen when she became pregnant. She went into labour at home, far from any maternal health facilities. Sadly, Amondi was one of the thousands of women every day who develop an injury during childbirth that could have been prevented.
Read Amondi’s story on our website: (link in bio)
(Amondi`s name has been changed to protect her privacy.)
When thorn trees dominate the landscape, changing tyres is a well-developed skill for ambulance drivers!
A big shout-out to the talented drivers navigating rough and unpredictable roads to bring women to safety.
Whether they’re dealing with floods, roads blocked by herds, punctured tyres, or even navigating rocky landscapes with no roads, a good driver is invaluable.
Hope was just a teenager when she experienced a long, traumatic labour trying to give birth. Her recovery took over six months, and even then, she continued to suffer with a fistula - a devastating childbirth injury.
She’s pictured here with her mother, after surgery at a fistula camp in South Sudan, where the surgical team, despite doing their best, said the extent of Hope’s injuries left little chance of her being cured.
Read Hope`s full story: (link in bio)
(Hope`s name is changed to protect her privacy.)
To all the mothers, fathers and families who’ve lost a baby or child, we are thinking of you today 🤍
From Australia to Africa, every baby’s life is precious. We’re working to make sure vulnerable women in East Africa have save access to healthcare during pregnancy and labour, to give every baby the best chance at life.
$280 can cover the cost of a woman to give birth safely at one of our supported hospitals in Africa. Will you contribute to that cost today – to give one mother and baby a safe birth in memory of a lost loved one?
Yes, I’ll support a safe birth today: (website link in our bio)
#pregnancyandinfantlossremembranceday #pregnancyandinfantloss #maternalhealth
From construction, to patients in a busy ward!
What an absolute joy to see this hospital already being a light in the darkness for the women of northern Uganda.
With @tekworofoundation and Sonic Healthcare Foundation