Providing lifesaving maternal healthcare & fistula repair in remote Africa
Around the world, approximately 800 women die every day from birth-related injuries such as fistula. More than half of these are in sub-Saharan Africa. The Barbara May Foundation funds projects that provide dignity and safety for underprivileged women in birth.
Established in 2009, the Barbara May Foundation (BMF) provides funding to Australian medical professionals Valerie Browning AM and Dr Andrew Browning AM initiating and managing projects in remote East Africa (Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Northern Uganda) that relieve the high incidence of death and extreme injury such as fistula in pregnancy and childbirth. They provide safety, dignity and hope. Maternal healthcare and medical services are provided at no cost, regardless of race or religion.
Projects supported in Africa
Barbara May Maternity Hospital, Ethiopia
Valerie Browning AM
Vision Maternity Care Hospital, Ethiopia
Dr Birhanu Menber
Kivulini Hospital Maternity Africa (MA), Tanzania
Dr Andrew Browning
Latest News & Articles
Impact Report for the year ended 30 June 2024
We are really grateful for the support we have received and the impact we have created.
Professor Jonathan Morris AM announced as Chair of Barbara May Foundation
We are pleased to advise that Professor Jonathan Morris AM, MB, ChB, FRANZCOG, CMFM, DDU, PhD,...
Success Story: Agness
Her Story - these profile stories cover the experiences of the women BMF are helping every day in...
Follow us on social media
Recently Dr Andrew Browning AM was honoured to be the Guest Speaker at the Scots College Speech Day, held at the Sydney Opera House.
In his inspiring and challenging speech, Dr Browning shares a story from early in his career which has stayed with him all this time.
One of our charity’s core values is Respect: the tireless recognition and honouring of the dignity of others. This story shows just how much it matters.
Find out more about the work we do, and how you can get involved: Link in Bio
#MaternalHealth #MakeADifference #SafeMotherhood #ObstetricFistula #FistulaAwareness #MaternityCareForAll #ChangeMakers #AustralianCharity #CharityAU #BarbaraMayFoundation #sydneyoperahouse
Recently Dr Andrew Browning AM was honoured to be the Guest Speaker at the Scots College Speech Day, held at the Sydney Opera House.
In his inspiring and challenging speech, Dr Browning shares a story from early in his career which has stayed with him all this time.
One of our charity’s core values is Respect: the tireless recognition and honouring of the dignity of others. This story shows just how much it matters.
Find out more about the work we do, and how you can get involved: Link in Bio
#MaternalHealth #MakeADifference #SafeMotherhood #ObstetricFistula #FistulaAwareness #MaternityCareForAll #ChangeMakers #AustralianCharity #CharityAU #BarbaraMayFoundation #sydneyoperahouse
If you`ve been wondering how our volunteers, Nathan, Darcy and Pat are doing over in Tanzania, we’re pleased to share they’ve settled straight into work and life at the hospital. They’ve even been learning some local lingo, as well as getting to meet the locals!
What a joy to see Tanzania through their eyes!
If you missed our recent post, these young men are currently volunteering their time to help update the medical records system at the Kivulini Maternity Centre in Tanzania.
Find out more about Kivulini and support their incredible life-giving maternity services on our website (link in bio).
#CharityAU #tanzania #masai #BarbaraMayFoundation #volunteer #maternalhealth #changemakers
If you`ve been wondering how our volunteers, Nathan, Darcy and Pat are doing over in Tanzania, we’re pleased to share they’ve settled straight into work and life at the hospital. They’ve even been learning some local lingo, as well as getting to meet the locals!
What a joy to see Tanzania through their eyes!
If you missed our recent post, these young men are currently volunteering their time to help update the medical records system at the Kivulini Maternity Centre in Tanzania.
Find out more about Kivulini and support their incredible life-giving maternity services on our website (link in bio).
#CharityAU #tanzania #masai #BarbaraMayFoundation #volunteer #maternalhealth #changemakers
Margaret was living – and suffering – with a fistula for over 50 years before she came to be treated at the Reconciliation Hospital in South Sudan. She was delighted to use a bed for the first time in her life, but most of all she was so happy to just have people sit and talk with her after being ostracised for so incredibly long.
Hear her full story in this recording from our Giving Tuesday online event.
We are grateful to be able to share such inspiring and impactful stories through social media. If you’d like to see more good news in your feed, please like and share this post, as it lets ‘the algorithm’ know you’re interested (and also helps us spread the word about the important work of treating and preventing fistula injuries!).
#MaternalHealth #MakeADifference #SafeMotherhood #ObstetricFistula #FistulaAwareness #MaternityCareForAll #ChangeMakers #AustralianCharity #CharityAU #BarbaraMayFoundation #bethechange
Margaret was living – and suffering – with a fistula for over 50 years before she came to be treated at the Reconciliation Hospital in South Sudan. She was delighted to use a bed for the first time in her life, but most of all she was so happy to just have people sit and talk with her after being ostracised for so incredibly long.
Hear her full story in this recording from our Giving Tuesday online event.
We are grateful to be able to share such inspiring and impactful stories through social media. If you’d like to see more good news in your feed, please like and share this post, as it lets ‘the algorithm’ know you’re interested (and also helps us spread the word about the important work of treating and preventing fistula injuries!).
#MaternalHealth #MakeADifference #SafeMotherhood #ObstetricFistula #FistulaAwareness #MaternityCareForAll #ChangeMakers #AustralianCharity #CharityAU #BarbaraMayFoundation #bethechange
Are you a health/medical professional in Melbourne, who would love to hear about making a difference in Africa, while sharing a traditional Ethiopian meal with other like-minded professionals? 👩⚕️
✨Invitation to a Medical Evening with Dr Andrew Browning AM in Melbourne in Feb✨
Come and hear from Dr Browning about his fistula and obstetric work in Africa!
All proceeds from the evening will go towards supporting the Barbara May Foundation’s lifesaving maternal healthcare and fistula repair in East Africa.
(Please be aware this event is for healthcare professionals, rather than a general audience, as Dr Browning will be sharing confronting surgery photographs and detailed medical information.)
Click for more details and to purchase tickets: Link in Bio!
#vicmidwives #melbournematernity #monashobstetrics #theroyalwomenshospital #womenshealthmatters #maternity #epworth #obstetrician
Are you a health/medical professional in Melbourne, who would love to hear about making a difference in Africa, while sharing a traditional Ethiopian meal with other like-minded professionals? 👩⚕️
✨Invitation to a Medical Evening with Dr Andrew Browning AM in Melbourne in Feb✨
Come and hear from Dr Browning about his fistula and obstetric work in Africa!
All proceeds from the evening will go towards supporting the Barbara May Foundation’s lifesaving maternal healthcare and fistula repair in East Africa.
(Please be aware this event is for healthcare professionals, rather than a general audience, as Dr Browning will be sharing confronting surgery photographs and detailed medical information.)
Click for more details and to purchase tickets: Link in Bio!
#vicmidwives #melbournematernity #monashobstetrics #theroyalwomenshospital #womenshealthmatters #maternity #epworth #obstetrician
Meet Pat, Nathan and Darcy!
These three friends (and soon-to-be university graduates) are heading to Tanzania to volunteer over their summer break! Here`s a bit more about them.
“Most people choose to travel when they graduate, before starting full time work. We thought, what’s the most impactful trip that WE could take, in terms of shaping the rest of our lives?”
“We’ve read [widely about meaningful work in Africa] and thought we should go over and be involved in one of these sub-Saharan charities, to volunteer for an extensive period of time, and align that to what is complementary to our background and skillset.”
These young men work in software engineering and software product management, and will be able to provide much-needed support with our hospital systems at Kivulini Maternity Centre in Arusha, Tanzania.
None of them have been to Africa before, and are, needless to say, very excited for their upcoming trip!
Follow along their journey this summer! We hope to share regular updates from their trip with you.
#bethechange #tanzania #barbaramayfoundation #volunteering #australiancharity #maternalhealth
Meet Pat, Nathan and Darcy!
These three friends (and soon-to-be university graduates) are heading to Tanzania to volunteer over their summer break! Here`s a bit more about them.
“Most people choose to travel when they graduate, before starting full time work. We thought, what’s the most impactful trip that WE could take, in terms of shaping the rest of our lives?”
“We’ve read [widely about meaningful work in Africa] and thought we should go over and be involved in one of these sub-Saharan charities, to volunteer for an extensive period of time, and align that to what is complementary to our background and skillset.”
These young men work in software engineering and software product management, and will be able to provide much-needed support with our hospital systems at Kivulini Maternity Centre in Arusha, Tanzania.
None of them have been to Africa before, and are, needless to say, very excited for their upcoming trip!
Follow along their journey this summer! We hope to share regular updates from their trip with you.
#bethechange #tanzania #barbaramayfoundation #volunteering #australiancharity #maternalhealth
Heading on a long trip these summer holidays?🚙✈️
Make the most of the travel time and catch up on some great podcast episodes!
We have created a Spotify playlist full of inspiring and insightful interviews with our Medical Director Dr Andrew Browning AM. Plus there are even a few interviews with the renowned Valerie Browning AM (who lives and works with the nomadic Afar people in Ethiopia).
Happy listening!
Playlist link in bio.
#inspiration #podcast #maternalhealth #nonprofit
Heading on a long trip these summer holidays?🚙✈️
Make the most of the travel time and catch up on some great podcast episodes!
We have created a Spotify playlist full of inspiring and insightful interviews with our Medical Director Dr Andrew Browning AM. Plus there are even a few interviews with the renowned Valerie Browning AM (who lives and works with the nomadic Afar people in Ethiopia).
Happy listening!
Playlist link in bio.
#inspiration #podcast #maternalhealth #nonprofit
Melkam Genna!
In Ethiopia, Christmas is celebrated on the 7th January.
We wish all our friends, our invaluable team and colleagues, and our dear patients in Ethiopia a very merry Christmas!
Melkam Genna!
In Ethiopia, Christmas is celebrated on the 7th January.
We wish all our friends, our invaluable team and colleagues, and our dear patients in Ethiopia a very merry Christmas!
What an incredible year 2024 has been! 🤩
We would love to share some of our highlights with you.
Thank you to everyone who has partnered with us and supported this life-giving work which we are blessed to be part of.
Please view our full 2024 Impact Report and donate here: Link in Bio.
#australiancharity #MaternalHealth #barbaramayfoundation #midwivesaustralia #midwifery #obstetrics #yearinreview #nonprofit
What an incredible year 2024 has been! 🤩
We would love to share some of our highlights with you.
Thank you to everyone who has partnered with us and supported this life-giving work which we are blessed to be part of.
Please view our full 2024 Impact Report and donate here: Link in Bio.
#australiancharity #MaternalHealth #barbaramayfoundation #midwivesaustralia #midwifery #obstetrics #yearinreview #nonprofit
Are you looking for a last-minute Christmas gift idea that is meaningful, unique and inspiring? 🎄
We`ve got you covered!
Dr Andrew`s book - A Doctor in Africa – is the inspiring and hope-filled story of his work in the remote and vastly under-resourced regions of East Africa, saving the lives and dignity of underprivileged women. Purchase online - see the link in the bio.
All royalties go towards the Barbara May Foundation’s lifesaving maternal healthcare and fistula repair in East Africa. That`s two gifts in one 🥰
#ChristmasGiftIdeas #InspiringReads #SupportLocalAuthors #BooksForACause #WomensHealthAwareness #charitygift #BarbaraMayFoundation #panmacmillan #bookreview #australianauthor
Are you looking for a last-minute Christmas gift idea that is meaningful, unique and inspiring? 🎄
We`ve got you covered!
Dr Andrew`s book - A Doctor in Africa – is the inspiring and hope-filled story of his work in the remote and vastly under-resourced regions of East Africa, saving the lives and dignity of underprivileged women. Purchase online - see the link in the bio.
All royalties go towards the Barbara May Foundation’s lifesaving maternal healthcare and fistula repair in East Africa. That`s two gifts in one 🥰
#ChristmasGiftIdeas #InspiringReads #SupportLocalAuthors #BooksForACause #WomensHealthAwareness #charitygift #BarbaraMayFoundation #panmacmillan #bookreview #australianauthor
**Update from Uganda**
The construction of the Kworo Sonic Healthcare Foundation Hospital is officially underway! 🎉
This hospital will support an estimated 500,000 people in Northern Uganda.
We will provide more updates as the build progresses.
We`re immensely grateful to Sonic Healthcare Foundation for their steadfast support.
Learn more with the link in the bio.
#CommunityHealth #ConstructionUpdate #BarbaraMayFoundation #tekworofoundation #sonichealthcarefoundation
**Update from Uganda**
The construction of the Kworo Sonic Healthcare Foundation Hospital is officially underway! 🎉
This hospital will support an estimated 500,000 people in Northern Uganda.
We will provide more updates as the build progresses.
We`re immensely grateful to Sonic Healthcare Foundation for their steadfast support.
Learn more with the link in the bio.
#CommunityHealth #ConstructionUpdate #BarbaraMayFoundation #tekworofoundation #sonichealthcarefoundation
We are pleased to announce that Professor Jonathan Morris AM, MB, ChB, FRANZCOG, CMFM, DDU, PhD, FAHMS has been appointed Chair of the Barbara May Foundation.
Professor Morris is a respected and highly experienced clinician and researcher in high-risk pregnancies. He has held several key positions in the past and is already a current Board Member of the Barbara May Foundation. He brings invaluable expertise in fostering collaborations across Australia and internationally to enhance access to safe maternal care.
And, on top of everything, Professor Morris and his wife are currently visiting and volunteering on the ground in Tanzania at the Kivulini Maternity Centre.
Please find more information here: (Link in Bio)
#MaternityAfrica #barbaramayfoundation #auscharity #maternalhealthcare #volunteer @maternityafrica
We are pleased to announce that Professor Jonathan Morris AM, MB, ChB, FRANZCOG, CMFM, DDU, PhD, FAHMS has been appointed Chair of the Barbara May Foundation.
Professor Morris is a respected and highly experienced clinician and researcher in high-risk pregnancies. He has held several key positions in the past and is already a current Board Member of the Barbara May Foundation. He brings invaluable expertise in fostering collaborations across Australia and internationally to enhance access to safe maternal care.
And, on top of everything, Professor Morris and his wife are currently visiting and volunteering on the ground in Tanzania at the Kivulini Maternity Centre.
Please find more information here: (Link in Bio)
#MaternityAfrica #barbaramayfoundation #auscharity #maternalhealthcare #volunteer @maternityafrica
The Rotary Club of Brisbane High-Rise is on a mission to raise $12,000, and they`re well on their way!
Their recent movie night at New Farm Theatre raised an impressive $4k, bringing their total to $8k! 🎉
These funds are going to be used to provide essential care packs for the vulnerable women who visit the Kivulini Maternity Centre.
We are extremely thankful for everyone who partners with us to provide life-saving maternal healthcare in Africa 🥰
#RotaryClub #MaternityCare #CommunitySupport #FundraisingEvent #WomenEmpowerment #CharityDrive #MakingADifference #TogetherWeCan #BarbaraMayFoundation #maternityafrica @rotarybrisbanehighrise
The Rotary Club of Brisbane High-Rise is on a mission to raise $12,000, and they`re well on their way!
Their recent movie night at New Farm Theatre raised an impressive $4k, bringing their total to $8k! 🎉
These funds are going to be used to provide essential care packs for the vulnerable women who visit the Kivulini Maternity Centre.
We are extremely thankful for everyone who partners with us to provide life-saving maternal healthcare in Africa 🥰
#RotaryClub #MaternityCare #CommunitySupport #FundraisingEvent #WomenEmpowerment #CharityDrive #MakingADifference #TogetherWeCan #BarbaraMayFoundation #maternityafrica @rotarybrisbanehighrise