Last Friday evening, 15th May, the work of Barbara May Foundation was featured on Australian national television, with A Current Affair shining a spotlight on maternal healthcare in remote Ethiopia.
Presented by news anchor and journalist Deborah Knight, the segment highlighted the extraordinary work of Australian nurse Valerie Browning AM in the Afar desert of Ethiopia, where she has spent decades living with and serving remote communities.
Known locally as Maalika, meaning “Queen”, Valerie has become deeply loved by the Afar people through her long-standing commitment to women and families in the region.
The story also featured Medical Director, renowned fistula surgeon, Dr Andrew Browning AM, who was operating at Barbara May Maternity Hospital during filming.
A special thanks to Sydney Local Health District and RPA Hospital in Sydney, along with volunteers – journalist Nick Cater and photographer/film-maker Justin McLean – for helping make this story possible.
Your Support Matters
National recognition like this is an important moment, not only for Barbara May Foundation, but for the many supporters, partners, medical staff, and local communities who make this work possible.
Last year, in the Afar region alone, your support enabled:
- 795 babies born at Barbara May Maternity Hospital
- 8,626 babies delivered through the rural maternity program
- 541 women treated for gynaecological conditions
- 15 women treated for obstetric fistula
This is just a small glimpse of the wider work your support makes possible for women in Africa.
Meet Valerie Browning in Australia
Maalika will soon be visiting Australia! This is a rare opportunity to meet her and hear directly about her work in Ethiopia.
