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Current projects in East Africa
HER DIGNITY FUND
Every woman matters.
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
Fistula surgeries: It takes a team
Meet some of the team restoring women’s dignity in TanzaniaCome with Dr Andrew as he introduces...
Lebmogne’s Story: Celebrating Safe Childbirth
Lebmogne was only 14 when she was first pregnant. She laboured for two days but, tragically, gave...
New Opportunity to Join our Team
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Taking a moment to appreciate that all the babies we see in NICU may not be here today, if not for the incredible team within these walls, as well as your ongoing support of this excellent hospital 🙌.
P.S How cute is this baby 😍!!
@maternityafrica #midwife #obstetrician #maternalhealth #nicu #neonatal #charity #womenshealth #midwifelife #charity
New mothers, new babies and families together. This is what fistula prevention looks like.
(Part 2 of our unofficial behind-the-scenes tour at our partner hospital, Kivulini Maternity Centre!)
@maternityafrica
#endfistula #fistulatreatment #womenshealth #maternalhealth #birthstory #midwifery
What challenges are women from nomadic tribes in Ethiopia facing during childbirth?
Valerie Browning AM, also known as Maalika (‘Queen’) by the local Afar peoples, gives us a quick update.
Today is International Day of Rural Women 🧡 Join us in ensuring women from remote and rural areas of East Africa can access lifesaving maternal healthcare: https://barbaramayfoundation.com/how-can-i-help/
#APDA #MaternalHealth #womenshealth #pregnancyandlabour #australiancharity #midwifery #internationaldayofruralwomen
Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. We’d like to pause and offer a moment of remembrance and prayer for the women we serve who have lost babies. In Africa, many pregnancy and infant losses could be avoided if women simply had access to safe, skilled, resourced maternal healthcare services.
Please take a moment, and then leave a white heart 🤍 in the comments for the mothers and families who will forever hold their lost babies in their hearts.
#fistula #maternalhealth #womenshealth #pregnancy #infantlossawareness #stillbornstillloved #midwifelife #midwifery #australiancharity #pregnancyandinfantlossawareness #angelbaby
Come with us on a short behind-the-scenes tour of the maternity ward at our partner hospital, Kivulini Maternity Centre. Part 1!
#MaternalHealth #hospital #midwifery #midwifelife #charity #fistulatreatment @maternityafrica
Look what’s arrived in Uganda…🎉
It might not look like much yet, but this shipment container is full of donated equipment for use in the new hospital in northern Uganda! The equipment includes ultrasounds, oxygen supplies, monitors, theatre tables and much more... 🤩
We are grateful to Sonic Healthcare Foundation who not only donated much of the equipment, but also handled the packing, shipping and all the logistics involved in collecting and sending the equipment.
@tekworofoundation
#maternalhealth #workplacegiving #corporategiving #australiancharity #barbaramayfoundation
We’re pleased to welcome Tania to the BMF team here in Australia! She’ll be the new face behind our office phone number and email address, so if you’re in touch make sure to give her a warm welcome 😄
https://barbaramayfoundation.com/contact/
Thanks to everyone who came to our event in Brisbane recently! It was wonderful to meet both long-term and new supporters.
If you missed out this time, make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter to hear about our next event (hint – we’re planning something special for November!)
https://barbaramayfoundation.com/events/
#philanthropy #maternalhealth #BarbaraMayFoundation #charityevent
Melkam Meskel!
Today our friends, colleagues, and communities in Ethiopia are celebrating Meskel — one of the country’s most important religious festivals. There will be colourful processions, traditional music, and the lighting of a large bonfire known as the `demera`.
To our Ethiopian staff and partners, we wish you a joyful and blessed Meskel. And to our supporters here in Australia, thank you for partnering with us to continue the important work supporting women in Ethiopia to give birth safely.
Today is Ethiopian New Year (Enkutash in Amharic). It’s an important day spent with family and friends, enjoying traditional cultural foods and coffee.
We want to wish all our colleagues, friends and patients in Ethiopia Melkam Addis Amet - a very Happy New Year!
#enkutatash #ethiopiannewyear #barbaramayfoundation
Last chance Brisbane! We’re coming to visit and we have a few tickets still available...but not for long!
5pm, Thursday 18 Sep...
💙 Meet likeminded colleagues
💙 Hear from Dr Andrew Browning AM, author of `A Doctor in Africa` and a global leading fistula surgeon
💙 Support an incredibly important cause while enjoying a drink or two in beautiful Brisbane City.
Reserve your spot: https://events.humanitix.com/meet-dr-andrew-browning-brisbane-2025 (link also in bio!)
P.S All proceeds from the event go towards supporting life-saving maternal healthcare in East Africa.
#brisbanemums #brisbaneevents #brisbaneqld #FistulaAwareness #barbaramayfoundation #authortalk #womenshealth #maternalhealth #charity #fundraisingevent #queensland
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there in our community!
Your support not only makes a difference for women and babies in East Africa, but for their families - their husbands and dads too 🥰
We wish you all a day filled with joy, good food, and, of course, family.