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
Her Story: Restoring Hilda’s Dignity
Hilda suffered an obstetric fistula during childbirth as a teenager. Hear her story below....
March Newsletter
Read our latest news and updates!
Workplace Giving Program is a Multi-Million Dollar Success!
The staff at Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), NSW, have collectively donated OVER $2 MILLION...
Follow us on social media
Last chance to buy tickets! We hope you can make it to our event in Orange next weekend 🍂🍷
When: Saturday 17 May, from 2pm
Where: De Salis Wines, Orange NSW
What: A special afternoon to hear from leading obstetric fistula surgeon Dr Andrew Browning AM, and the Barbara May Foundation, about maternal healthcare in East Africa.
RSVP CLOSES TODAY. Buy your tickets and tag a friend to make sure they`re coming too!
Link in Bio!
#orangensw #orangensw2800 #maternitycare #womenshealth #australiancharity #barbaramayfoundation #nsw #nswgetaway #centralwestnsw
Last chance to buy tickets! We hope you can make it to our event in Orange next weekend 🍂🍷
When: Saturday 17 May, from 2pm
Where: De Salis Wines, Orange NSW
What: A special afternoon to hear from leading obstetric fistula surgeon Dr Andrew Browning AM, and the Barbara May Foundation, about maternal healthcare in East Africa.
RSVP CLOSES TODAY. Buy your tickets and tag a friend to make sure they`re coming too!
Link in Bio!
#orangensw #orangensw2800 #maternitycare #womenshealth #australiancharity #barbaramayfoundation #nsw #nswgetaway #centralwestnsw
Happy International Nurses Day!
Thank you especially to all the nurses working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of women and babies in our supported hospitals in East Africa.
And a moment of appreciation for the woman who started it all – Valerie Browning AM, an Australian nurse who decided early in her career to go overseas and help where she was needed (and never came back)! What an inspiration.
#nurselife #nursesweek #InternationalNursesDay #maternitycare #barbaramayfoundation #nurse
Happy International Nurses Day!
Thank you especially to all the nurses working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of women and babies in our supported hospitals in East Africa.
And a moment of appreciation for the woman who started it all – Valerie Browning AM, an Australian nurse who decided early in her career to go overseas and help where she was needed (and never came back)! What an inspiration.
#nurselife #nursesweek #InternationalNursesDay #maternitycare #barbaramayfoundation #nurse
It’s important today to also acknowledge all the mothers who are grieving💙
Too many women have lost babies and children, and more than 700 women are still dying during childbirth every single day.
Sadly, in Africa, many of these losses could have been prevented if women had access to the same quality of maternal healthcare as we have here in Australia.
The good news is, we CAN do something about it. Visit our bio for more info
#mothersday #happymothersday #maternitycare #angelbaby #infantloss #grieving #fistula #womenshealth #barbaramayfoundation
It’s important today to also acknowledge all the mothers who are grieving💙
Too many women have lost babies and children, and more than 700 women are still dying during childbirth every single day.
Sadly, in Africa, many of these losses could have been prevented if women had access to the same quality of maternal healthcare as we have here in Australia.
The good news is, we CAN do something about it. Visit our bio for more info
#mothersday #happymothersday #maternitycare #angelbaby #infantloss #grieving #fistula #womenshealth #barbaramayfoundation
Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful supporters, staff and patients. We hope you have a wonderful day knowing you are so, so loved 🥰
We are grateful to be able to meet and support inspiring, brave and beautiful mothers every day through our work.
P.S And thank you to all the incredible midwives, nurses and health workers who support the safe delivery of healthy babies around the world – we see you 🧡
#mothersday #happymothersday #australiancharity #barbaramayfoundation
Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful supporters, staff and patients. We hope you have a wonderful day knowing you are so, so loved 🥰
We are grateful to be able to meet and support inspiring, brave and beautiful mothers every day through our work.
P.S And thank you to all the incredible midwives, nurses and health workers who support the safe delivery of healthy babies around the world – we see you 🧡
#mothersday #happymothersday #australiancharity #barbaramayfoundation
Did you know it’s just over two weeks until Mother’s Day!? 🤯
There’s nothing more relevant to mothers than giving birth – and the complications that can arise. Surprise Mum with this inspiring read, and the extra gift of knowing that purchasing this book is helping women in Africa be able to give birth safely.
Plus… whose mum wouldn’t love a good book to go with that cuppa you’re going to make her? (Hint! Hint!)
Order your gift today to ensure it arrives in time! > Link in bio.
#mothersday #mothersday2025 #bookreview #giftformum #giftideasforher♥️ #barbaramayfoundation #australiancharity #meaningfulgift #midwifegift #nursegift #newmumgift
Did you know it’s just over two weeks until Mother’s Day!? 🤯
There’s nothing more relevant to mothers than giving birth – and the complications that can arise. Surprise Mum with this inspiring read, and the extra gift of knowing that purchasing this book is helping women in Africa be able to give birth safely.
Plus… whose mum wouldn’t love a good book to go with that cuppa you’re going to make her? (Hint! Hint!)
Order your gift today to ensure it arrives in time! > Link in bio.
#mothersday #mothersday2025 #bookreview #giftformum #giftideasforher♥️ #barbaramayfoundation #australiancharity #meaningfulgift #midwifegift #nursegift #newmumgift
Happy Easter! Melkam Fasika!
To everyone celebrating Easter, whether here or in Africa, we send our greetings and blessings.
There is nothing like hope after the darkness, new life after loss, and generous, compassionate love. Thank you to God who modelled for us the greatest love for us all 🧡
#barbaramayfoundation #melkamfasika #happyeaster
Happy Easter! Melkam Fasika!
To everyone celebrating Easter, whether here or in Africa, we send our greetings and blessings.
There is nothing like hope after the darkness, new life after loss, and generous, compassionate love. Thank you to God who modelled for us the greatest love for us all 🧡
#barbaramayfoundation #melkamfasika #happyeaster
"Five districts of northern Uganda have no comprehensive maternity services. When finished, our new maternity hospital, a partnership with Sonic Healthcare and Te-Kworo Foundation, will help women, who, currently in labour, often walk more than a day for help.
We inspected the property which, excitingly, is well on its way to being finished. A site blessing, important to raise local community awareness and engagement, was attended by government officials, the local bishop, and girls from the local high school.
Minister for Women, Hon Beatrice Akeri from the Office of the President visited and it was a privilege to meet her.
Today a little Cessna came and collected us back to Kampala for our next assignment. I thought all airports had even a shed. Not this one. Just a red dirt road as the airstrip!"
- An update from Karen Baker, General Manager
#uganda #barbaramayfoundation #womenshealth #maternityhospital #Maternitycare #maternity #fistula #australiancharity
"Five districts of northern Uganda have no comprehensive maternity services. When finished, our new maternity hospital, a partnership with Sonic Healthcare and Te-Kworo Foundation, will help women, who, currently in labour, often walk more than a day for help.
We inspected the property which, excitingly, is well on its way to being finished. A site blessing, important to raise local community awareness and engagement, was attended by government officials, the local bishop, and girls from the local high school.
Minister for Women, Hon Beatrice Akeri from the Office of the President visited and it was a privilege to meet her.
Today a little Cessna came and collected us back to Kampala for our next assignment. I thought all airports had even a shed. Not this one. Just a red dirt road as the airstrip!"
- An update from Karen Baker, General Manager
#uganda #barbaramayfoundation #womenshealth #maternityhospital #Maternitycare #maternity #fistula #australiancharity
Talk about cutting it fine! Dr Browning was down to his last suture after operating on 103 cases during the most recent fistula camp he attended. These particular sutures are hard to find but are very useful for obstetric fistula surgeries.
Our previous supplier had unexpectedly stopped providing these sutures, but thankfully – as many of you know – Dr Browning really makes resources go as far as possible! In his book, A Doctor In Africa, Dr Browning talks about how wasteful Western hospitals have become, e.g. throwing things out instead of sterilising them. When you rely on donations of supplies, or funding to provide them, you really need to plan ahead. Thankfully, Dr Browning did just that, with his one remaining suture as evidence!!
A huge thanks to Sonic Healthcare Foundation who have saved the day – and all the planned upcoming fistula surgeries – by donating more sutures.
We are so grateful for your ongoing donations, which allow us to plan and provide ongoing medical supplies for our maternity hospitals in Africa.
#fistula #medicalcharity #barbaramayfoundation #suture #midwifery #obstetrics #obstetrician #womenshealth #maternalhealth #maternity
Talk about cutting it fine! Dr Browning was down to his last suture after operating on 103 cases during the most recent fistula camp he attended. These particular sutures are hard to find but are very useful for obstetric fistula surgeries.
Our previous supplier had unexpectedly stopped providing these sutures, but thankfully – as many of you know – Dr Browning really makes resources go as far as possible! In his book, A Doctor In Africa, Dr Browning talks about how wasteful Western hospitals have become, e.g. throwing things out instead of sterilising them. When you rely on donations of supplies, or funding to provide them, you really need to plan ahead. Thankfully, Dr Browning did just that, with his one remaining suture as evidence!!
A huge thanks to Sonic Healthcare Foundation who have saved the day – and all the planned upcoming fistula surgeries – by donating more sutures.
We are so grateful for your ongoing donations, which allow us to plan and provide ongoing medical supplies for our maternity hospitals in Africa.
#fistula #medicalcharity #barbaramayfoundation #suture #midwifery #obstetrics #obstetrician #womenshealth #maternalhealth #maternity
Apwoyo (hello) from Kampala, Uganda! Dr Andrew Browning (Medical Director), Karen Baker (General Manager) and our Sonic Healthcare friends are pictured here en route to a small, remote community of northern Uganda ✈️
Barbara May Foundation, together with Te-Kworo Foundation and Sonic Healthcare Foundation, have a near-constructed maternity hospital in Pader, northern Uganda, due to open later this year.
This new facility, generously supported by Sonic, will give poor and vulnerable women in this community a safe place to deliver their babies and be supported through any complications, free of charge.
#barbaramayfoundation #womenshealth #childbirth #maternity #maternalhealth #midwifery #australiancharity
Apwoyo (hello) from Kampala, Uganda! Dr Andrew Browning (Medical Director), Karen Baker (General Manager) and our Sonic Healthcare friends are pictured here en route to a small, remote community of northern Uganda ✈️
Barbara May Foundation, together with Te-Kworo Foundation and Sonic Healthcare Foundation, have a near-constructed maternity hospital in Pader, northern Uganda, due to open later this year.
This new facility, generously supported by Sonic, will give poor and vulnerable women in this community a safe place to deliver their babies and be supported through any complications, free of charge.
#barbaramayfoundation #womenshealth #childbirth #maternity #maternalhealth #midwifery #australiancharity
Her Story: Halima 🧡
Halima is from the Afar region in Ethiopia. When she went into labour, she was attended by an untrained traditional birth attendant. The attendant tried to help deliver the baby, but, using an old traditional village knife, she accidentally cut through Halima’s urethra. Halima lived with a fistula, leaking urine, for five years. She has now received treatment at the Barbara May Maternity Hospital in Mille, Ethiopia, and is doing well.
Here she is pictured with Sr Ahmed, an exceptional health officer who cares for all the patients, at our hospital supporting the millions living in the Afar deserts.
Find out more about the maternity and fistula hospitals we support in Africa, and how you can help more women like Halima - link in bio.
#birthstory #fistula #australiancharity #barbaramayfoundation #maternity #maternalhealth #womenshealth
Her Story: Halima 🧡
Halima is from the Afar region in Ethiopia. When she went into labour, she was attended by an untrained traditional birth attendant. The attendant tried to help deliver the baby, but, using an old traditional village knife, she accidentally cut through Halima’s urethra. Halima lived with a fistula, leaking urine, for five years. She has now received treatment at the Barbara May Maternity Hospital in Mille, Ethiopia, and is doing well.
Here she is pictured with Sr Ahmed, an exceptional health officer who cares for all the patients, at our hospital supporting the millions living in the Afar deserts.
Find out more about the maternity and fistula hospitals we support in Africa, and how you can help more women like Halima - link in bio.
#birthstory #fistula #australiancharity #barbaramayfoundation #maternity #maternalhealth #womenshealth
Meet the team… Sr Banchu 😊
Banchu has been working as a midwife at Vision Maternity Care Hospital since it opened in Bahirdar, Ethiopia, in 2011. She has delivered and supervised the delivery of thousands of babies in her time!
She loves working at VMC because of “The good working atmosphere and conditions. I enjoy being able to care for the women in labour and to be able to do my job correctly because we have what we need to do so.”
What a blessing it is for women to be able to receive care during childbirth from dedicated staff like Banchu
Find out how to support the hospital where Banchu works: https://barbaramayfoundation.com/projects/vision-maternity-care-hospital/
#maternity #maternalcare #maternalhealth #midwives #midwife #midwifery #barbaramayfoundation #womenshealth
Meet the team… Sr Banchu 😊
Banchu has been working as a midwife at Vision Maternity Care Hospital since it opened in Bahirdar, Ethiopia, in 2011. She has delivered and supervised the delivery of thousands of babies in her time!
She loves working at VMC because of “The good working atmosphere and conditions. I enjoy being able to care for the women in labour and to be able to do my job correctly because we have what we need to do so.”
What a blessing it is for women to be able to receive care during childbirth from dedicated staff like Banchu
Find out how to support the hospital where Banchu works: https://barbaramayfoundation.com/projects/vision-maternity-care-hospital/
#maternity #maternalcare #maternalhealth #midwives #midwife #midwifery #barbaramayfoundation #womenshealth
Coffee Ceremony…Turned Birthing Ceremony!
Because of the ongoing rebel activities, it has been more than a year since Dr Browning was last able to visit Bahirdar. The staff at Vision Maternity Care Hospital put on a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony to celebrate and spend time together. They had to wait until the end of the day, as almost everyone was fasting for Lent or Ramadan.
However, the ceremony was interrupted, as the team was called to help in the labour ward. THREE women in labour delivered in quick succession! The team swung into action, everyone knowing their roles, and everything went extremely smoothly. Everyone shared in the mothers’ joy. A celebration indeed!
#maternity #midwives #midwifelife #barbaramayfoundation #australiancharity #coffeeceremony #womenshealth
Coffee Ceremony…Turned Birthing Ceremony!
Because of the ongoing rebel activities, it has been more than a year since Dr Browning was last able to visit Bahirdar. The staff at Vision Maternity Care Hospital put on a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony to celebrate and spend time together. They had to wait until the end of the day, as almost everyone was fasting for Lent or Ramadan.
However, the ceremony was interrupted, as the team was called to help in the labour ward. THREE women in labour delivered in quick succession! The team swung into action, everyone knowing their roles, and everything went extremely smoothly. Everyone shared in the mothers’ joy. A celebration indeed!
#maternity #midwives #midwifelife #barbaramayfoundation #australiancharity #coffeeceremony #womenshealth