Providing lifesaving maternal healthcare in regional and remote Africa
Around the world, approximately 800 women die every day from birth-related injuries. 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. Running projects in regional and remote Africa (Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Sudan) that relieve the high incidence of death and extreme injury 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
Reconciliation Hospital, South Sudan
Dr Andrew Browning
Kivulini Hospital Maternity Africa (MA), Tanzania
Dr Andrew Browning
Latest News & Articles
International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
October 15 is International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day observed for pregnancy loss...
News: Fistula survivor in Afar region of Ethiopia fulfills her dream of becoming pregnant again
Mille - Afar, Ethiopia - “When I had fistula, I never thought I would be able to have a normal...
Meet Dr Andrew Browning Brisbane Event
On September 23, 80 guests joined BMF Director, Richard Browning, BMF Ambassador Dr Geoff Kelsey...
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“The regional health bureau of Amhara gave Dr Birhanu and me this blue tin shed to convert into a maternity hospital. It was the zonal health department office for a population of seven million, but the Barbara May Foundation put it to better use, caring for around 2000 women a year. Not a single woman has died there. We converted the larger office at the end into an operating theatre.” Excerpt from A Doctor in Africa.
#adoctorinafrica #barbaramayfoundation #fistularepair #africa #safebirth ##adoctorinafrica #barbaramayfoundation #fistularepair #africa #safebirth ##savethemothersavetheworldsavethemothersavetheworld
“Operating on a fistula patient in Bahir Dar. I use this photo in my training lectures, telling students, ‘You can teach a monkey how to do this.’” Excerpt from A Doctor in Africa.
Learn more on www.barbaramayfoundation.com.
#adoctorinafrica #barbaramayfoundation #fistularepair #africa #safebirth #savethemothersavetheworld
Phoebe is only 12-years-old, and although she doesn't have a fistula caused by childbirth, she has lived like a fistula patient all her young life due to an abnormality she was born with whereby the kidneys drain to the outside rather than to her bladder. Leaking urine continually, teased, pushed aside, she has never known a minute when she was dry and didn't smell until just a few days ago when she underwent successful repair surgery in Uganda at our BMF-partnership hospital in Kitovu at the fistula camp where all the surgeries are provide free-of-charge for women in need. Her health and dignity returned, Phoebe’s smile is growing day by day. www.barbaramayfoundation.com #fistularepair #fistula #africa
Sr Florence is an established fistula surgeon. She is pictured here (in the pink T-shirt) with the 80+ fistula patients who have come for free treatment to the Kitovu Mission hospital near Masaka in Uganda. 'Mother Winnie' as she is known, was one of the pioneers of the fistula program in Uganda some 35-years-ago. www.barbaramayfoundation.com #fistula #safebirth #africa #savethemothersavetheworld
The fistula camp underway at Kitovu Mission Hospital near Masaka in Uganda has seen more than 80 women come for treatment. Pictured here are some of the women who have already received or are about to receive surgery. Those cured are dancing rather enthusiastically for joy - and testing their repairs – which we are happy to report, stood up to the dancing! It is such a privilege to be part of a great team that is returning freedom and dignity to these women who have suffered for so long. www.barbaramayfoundation.com #barbaramayfoundation #savethemothersavetheworld #fistularepair #safebirth #africa
A land that time forgot: “Our hometown in Bahir Dar rests on the shore of Lake Tana. It’s the only place in the world where boasts made of papyrus reeds are still used, having been made popular by the Egyptians some 5000 years ago. They come in handy to deliver meat from the butcher (alive).”
Excerpt from A Doctor in Africa
For more information: www.barbaramayfoundation.com #adoctorinafrica #barbaramayfoundation #fistularepair #africa #safebirth #savethemothersavetheworld
October 15 is International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day observed for pregnancy loss and infant death, which includes miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, and the death of a newborn.
Pregnancy loss is defined differently around the world, but in Australia a baby who dies before 22 weeks of pregnancy is referred to as a miscarriage, and babies who die at or after 22 weeks are stillbirths. Globally every year, nearly two million babies are stillborn and many of these deaths are preventable.
As varied as the experience of losing a baby may be, around the world stigma, shame and guilt emerge as common themes. Many women who lose their babies are made to feel that they should stay silent about their grief, either because miscarriage and stillbirth are still so common, or because they are perceived to be unavoidable. Many women who lose a baby in pregnancy can go on to develop mental health issues that last for months or years–even when they have gone on to have healthy babies.
Cultural and societal attitudes to losing a baby can vary tremendously around the globe. In sub-Saharan Africa, a common belief is that a baby might be stillborn because of the influence of witchcraft or evil spirits.
The primary focus of BMF-funded programs in rural and regional East Africa is to enable access to free professional maternal health services and infrastructure, safe childbirth, the delivery of live babies, and mothers not dying or injured during childbirth. Many stillbirths have been prevented with medical treatment, with some patients experiencing up to eight stillbirths in a row at term before experiencing the joy of successfully delivering a beautiful live baby.
The programs also include valuable counselling and follow-up care for women who have suffered the pain of miscarriage or stillbirth. Learn more here: https://barbaramayfoundation.com/
#savethemothersavetheworld #barbaramayfoundation #safebirth #fistula #fistularepairoperations #maternalhealth
Andrew has just landed in Africa to tackle a long-overdue round of fistula camps. He will undertake approximately 60-70 surgeries in Kitovu in Uganda; 50+ patients at Kivulini in Tanzania, about 20-30 women in South Sudan and hopefully 10 women at the Barbara May Maternity Hospital in Mille, Ethiopia, where he will also have a much-needed catch-up with Valerie Browning who has been at the forefront of the terrible unrest in that region. We send our prayers and best wishes to Andrew and Valerie who rarely take their personal safety into account when helping the disadvantaged women of these remote and regional areas to access the human right of safe birth or the freedom and dignity that comes with life-changing fistula surgery.
#savethemothersavetheworld #fistularepair #safebirth #africa
It takes many to make a difference - “Ato Negash and Dr Birhanu ran the fistula hospital with me but also saw the need to improve maternal health care and prevent fistula. We sponsored him through medical school and he’s now the medical director of our maternity hospital in Bahir Dat. Ato Negash joined more recently as the manager.” Excerpt from A Doctor in Africa.
You can read the inspiring story on the evolution of the Foundation, which is funding programs that are changing lives in Africa, in Dr Andrew’s book - A Doctor in Africa. Available in bookstores, online or order it via the Foundation for $34.99 plus postage (about $10). Email info@barbaramayfoundation.com. All royalties go to the Foundation. #adoctorinafrica #barbaramayfoundation #fistularepair #africa #safebirth #savethemothersavetheworld
Today the Barbara May Foundation recognises International Day of the Girl Child - an annual observance that empowers girls and amplifies their voices. The day acknowledges the importance, power, and potential of adolescent girls by encouraging the opening up of more opportunities for them. At the same time, it is designated to eliminate gender-based challenges that girls face around the world including child marriages, poor learning opportunities, violence, and discrimination.
BMF-funded programs in Africa includes the education of young women and girls about harmful traditional practices and safe birth and provides access to trained maternal health professionals and facilities. Valerie Browning’s pastoral organisation in Ethiopia also teaches girls and women to read and write. Learn more about what we do at https://barbaramayfoundation.com/
#savethemothersavetheworld #womenandgirls #barbaramayfoundation #safebirth #fistula #fistularepair #maternalhealth #africa
“A typical village scene in the Afar desert of Ethiopia. The family sleep in their domed hut called a Deboita. It’s made of mats woven with palm fronds secured over a frame of bent sticks. The locust plague of 2020 devoured many houses leaving families no food and no house.” Excerpt from A Doctor in Africa.
You can read the inspiring story on the evolution of the Foundation, which is funding programs that are changing lives in Africa, in Dr Andrew’s book - A Doctor in Africa. Available in bookstores, online, or order it via the Foundation for $34.99 plus postage (about $10). Email info@barbaramayfoundation.com. All royalties go to the Foundation. #adoctorinafrica #barbaramayfoundation #fistularepair #africa #safebirth #savethemothersavetheworld
Dr Andrew was only able to travel back to Africa for fistula camps twice in FY2021 meaning the camps were much busier. When he visited the South Sudan in March he completed 38 surgeries among which was a young woman called Aruel, who also suffers from Dwarfism.
After two agonising days in labour she finally reached a hospital to undergo a caesarean and deliver her second child in a remote area of South Sudan. However, she suffered a fistula. Fortunately, the new hospital at Juba, where Dr Andrew operates in South Sudan, was able to help. Read the full story in the bio link.
#savethemothersavetheworld #barbaramayfoundation #safebirth #fistula #fistularepairoperations #maternalhealth
Last Thursday evening 80 guests joined BMF Director, Richard Browning, BMF Ambassador Dr Geoff Kelsey and great friend of the Foundation’s, Margaret Hounslow, at Customs House in Brisbane to meet Dr Andrew Browning and hear about the maternal health and fistula repair work funded by the Foundation in remote and regional East Africa. Due to COVID restrictions, Andrew was unable to attend in person but instead Zoomed in for his talk followed by nearly one hour of live Q&A from the enthralled guests, many of who were from the local Ethiopian community. Thanks to the McCaul family for their help in ensuring the financial success of the event, and the generous donors who added to the positive outcome of the evening. Hundreds of underprivileged women will be provided with safe birth, or the freedom and dignity provided by the repair of a fistula injury, by the funds raised. www.barbaramayfoundation.com #savethemothersavetheworld #safebirth #fistularepair #Africa #Ethiopia #Tanzania #Southsudan #customshousebne
From the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney to the Kivulini Maternity Centre in Arusha, Tanzania, Professor Jonathan Morris and his wife Katherine travelled to share their skills in support of the African hospital. Kivulini Maternity Centre was founded to provide life-changing medical services to women in need. Link to full news release in bio.
#savethemothersavetheworld #barbaramayfoundation #safebirth #fistula #fistularepairoperations #maternalhealth #volunteer
“Miracle of Missay. A year and a half after she should have died from sustaining a double fistula and suffering medical complications, Missay was completely recovered; walking, seeing and continent. She made the two-day journey back from her home with her husband Biruk to present us with a gift.” Excerpt from A Doctor in Africa.
You can read the inspiring story on the evolution of the Foundation, which is funding programs that are changing lives in Africa, in Dr Andrew’s book - A Doctor in Africa. Available in bookstores, online or order it via the Foundation for $34.99 plus postage (about $10). Email info@barbaramayfoundation.com. All royalties go to the Foundation. #adoctorinafrica #barbaramayfoundation #fistularepair #africa #safebirth #savethemothersavetheworld