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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
New Friendships for Fistula Patients in South Sudan
Eliza's Story As a young woman, Eliza worked in a tea shop in a northern area of South Sudan near...
Our Ambassador in the News!
Read below to hear more about our wonderful ambassador Kareena Shaw's story - from nurse in...
Breaking Taboos and Saving Lives in the Deserts of Ethiopia
Meet Mohammad, known locally as the ‘mother’s doctor’ for his care saving lives during labour. But...
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What better way to celebrate International Day of Happiness than to restore a woman’s health, confidence and future.
Women suffering with fistula can live with deep shame and discomfort of incontinence, often ostracised from their friends, families and communities.
Most fistula injuries can only be healed with surgery.
We love seeing that slow return of joy and hope to a patient’s eyes, as the reality of healing sets in. Her dignity is restored; her hope is reignited.
Your support can bring a smile back: Link in bio.
How we know it’s been a busy day in the antenatal clinic?
Mothers who come in for check-ups are able to receive malaria prevention tablets and pregnancy nutrition support (e.g. iron/folate supplements). Small things we take for granted here in Australia can make a huge difference for a mother and her unborn baby from low-socio economic backgrounds in Africa.
Last year, thanks to our committed donors, we facilitated over 64,000 clinic visits across our partner hospitals in Ethiopia and Tanzania. Isn’t that incredible 🙌
Meet Glory, a nursing and midwife student in Tanzania.
We caught up with her on the morning ward round and asked how her placement was going.
“I’m very happy to be getting a lot of experience.”
“What I like about Kivulini is seeing the good care and different range of services mothers are able to experience, and also seeing the good teamwork of the staff.”
Midwife training is at the core of what we do. Whether graduates end up with a full-time position at our partner hospitals or not, their deepened skillset and experiencing our model of care will have a greater effect in the wider healthcare community.
Look who was in the paper on the weekend! What a lovely story and write up of our Ambassador and volunteer midwife, Kareena, about her passion for helping mothers in Africa to give birth safely.
A true inspiration 🥰
@dailytelegraph
The hospital grounds are peaceful, but there is a lot to do.
It’s quiet, but there’s a lot going on within the walls of this hospital AND within each woman’s heart.
It’s almost hard to believe that such an ordinary day is going to be the day a woman gets her life back.
Today, THIS very moment, your support is restoring dignity, hope and agency through fistula surgeries. Thank you 🧡
#endfistula #maternalhealth #FistulaAwareness
Happy International Women’s Day!
Today we reaffirm our vision of a world where women can face childbirth with dignity and confidence.
Your support means the world to women like
🧡 Rebecca, who was able to receive emergency care for the birth of her baby girl.
🧡 Zamda, whose dignity was restored through fistula surgery.
🧡 Gracey, who is very excited for her first child and knows she and her baby will be safe and cared for.
Your support can help change the future for a woman in Africa: Visit out bio to find out more.
#fistula #maternalhealth
Did you know an obstetric fistula is a devastating birth injury caused by obstructed labour?
In places without access to a safe emergency Caesarean, it can change a woman’s life forever. Learning this changed how I see birth.
A safe C-section isn’t something to fear - for many women, it’s a life-saving privilege.
We’re working to ensure more women can give birth safely, wherever they live 💙
#midwife #3rdtrimester #charity
Have you read Dr Andrew’s story?
If so, who would you recommend this book for?
Let us know what you liked about ‘A Doctor in Africa’ in the comments below 👇
Maternal health outcomes improve when organisations commit to decades, not just projects.
In a remote region of Uganda, hope is coming. This hospital will soon support 2,000 safe births every year 🙌
Make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter to receive updates on the progress and impact. Join us for the journey - from foundations to births. Link in bio.
*This maternity hospital is a collaboration between Sonic Healthcare Foundation, @tekworofoundation and Barbara May Foundation.
#sustainabledevelopmentgoals #maternalhealth #australiancharity
Obstetric fistula affects more than a woman’s body.
Many women living with this preventable childbirth injury experience profound grief, shame, and loss of hope. Many cannot imagine ever affording treatment.
Your support enables these women to be found, treated, and cared for with dignity and respect.
Last year, your generosity enabled 601 life-changing obstetric fistula operations.
Thank you 🧡
#bethechange #faithinaction #maternalhealth
The waiting room is full today with mamas coming to receive free maternity care 🥰 a busy day ahead for the antenatal clinic nurses!
By ensuring women from at-risk backgrounds can access free maternal healthcare, together we can reduce preventable deaths and birthing injuries like obstetric fistula.
Follow us to see behind the scenes of real lives changed through daily faith in action.
#missionary #christianliving #maternitycare #womenshealth #midwifelife
This is what progress looks like.
Each day of construction brings us closer to a hospital where women can receive safe, skilled care – preventing birth injuries and saving lives.
It might not look like much yet, but this is a site of hope and healing for generations to come 🧡
#sustainabledevelopmentgoals
#maternalhealth
#womenshealth