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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.

Latest News & Articles

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula

This International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, we are honoured to share Barachi’s story with you. Barachi is a fistula patient who was living in rural Tanzania for over 40 years, before she finally received treatment.

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What would you do if the hospital told you that leaking urine constantly after giving birth was “normal”? What if it didn’t heal after a few days?

Hear Paulina's full story (link in bio - Paulina's Story)
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#barbaramayfoundation #womenshealth #australiancharity #maternitycare #FistulaAwareness #EndFistula #fistulatreatment #FistulaCare #africanwomen #fistulafoundation #maternalmentalhealth #MaternalHealthMatters #maternalhealth #birthstory #postpartum 
Video: @justinmclean

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After a very long, painful labour, Paulina went to the local hospital near her village. However, they refused to allow her baby to be delivered by caesarean section.
 
This is why it’s so important to provide quality training to local midwives and ensure maternity hospitals are fully equipped. 

Paulina shares her story here: (link in bio) https://barbaramayfoundation.com/her-dignity-fund
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#barbaramayfoundation #womenshealth #australiancharity #maternitycare #FistulaAwareness #EndFistula #fistulatreatment #FistulaCare #africanwomen #fistulafoundation #maternalmentalhealth #MaternalHealthMatters #maternalhealth  
#birthstory #postpartum

 

Film: @justinmclean

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Meet Paulina, a local seamstress, beloved mother and wife, and obstetric fistula patient. 

She has courageously shared her story. 
Watch it here: see link in bio (Paulina's Story) 
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#barbaramayfoundation #womenshealth #australiancharity #maternitycare #FistulaAwareness #EndFistula #fistulatreatment #FistulaCare #africanwomen #fistulafoundation #maternalmentalhealth #MaternalHealthMatters #maternalhealth
Photography: @justinmclean

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Listen in! Dr Andrew Browning AM recently caught up with Clayton from Towards Understanding. This interview will be aired tonight at 7pm, on 89.9 The Light. You can listen to the station’s livestream here: https://thelight.com.au/

P.S Don’t worry if you miss it, we’ll be sharing the podcast recording for you when it becomes available!

#barbaramayfoundation #PodcastInterview #womenshealth #australiancharity #ChristianRadio #missionary #MaternityCare 
@899thelight

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Good luck to everyone participating in today’s Fistula Marathon in Arusha!

And we want to say a huge THANK YOU for caring about this incredibly worthy mission of preventing fistulas and restoring women’s dignity.

#fistulaawareness #endfistula #internationaldaytoendobstetricfistula #womenshealth #maternity #maternitycare #barbaramayfoundation #tanzania #arusha #funrun2025 #fistulamarathon 
@maternityafrica

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It’s International Day to End Obstetric Fistula! Barachi’s story 🧡 

Complications happen all the time during childbirth. The thing is, Barachi’s story could be any of ours, if we didn’t have access to safe maternity healthcare.

If you (or your wife, sister, mother, or aunty) gave birth with a hospital or the help of a trained midwife, please share or like this video. 

We believe every day should be the day to eradicate obstetric fistulas... but today IS a great excuse to help us raise awareness, so hit share and help us spread the word that fistulas are preventable AND treatable!

#barbaramayfoundation #maternalhealth #newbaby #4thtrimester #birthstory #midwivesmakeadifference #midwifery #fistula #endfistula #fistulaawareness #internationaldaytoendobstetricfistula #charity

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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

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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

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