The Browning Family in Africa

Collectively, Valerie Browning AM and Dr Andrew Browning AM have been working in sub-Saharan Africa for more than 50 years. Motivated by the love and compassion of Jesus Christ, they bring a wealth of local knowledge and respect, in-country experience and evidence-based success for the improvement of maternal healthcare in this region.

Current structure in Africa

Valerie works through the Afar Pastoral Development Association (APDA) based in Mille (Afar), Ethiopia. Andrew works through Maternity Africa (MA), based in Arusha, Tanzania, and the Vision Maternity Care Hospital (VMC) board in Barhir Dar. Together, he and Valerie’s organisations focus on the provision of free high quality medical care and sustainable development by:

• Advocating for women’s health and well-being regardless of race, religion or financial standing.
• Providing education and information on modern women’s healthcare while remaining sensitive and respectful of local traditions and culture.
• Implementing systems to train local maternal health providers in sound clinical skills and competency.
• Driving the improvement of available medical facilities.
• Building and running maternity hospitals to provide free health care for the poor.
• Treating birth injuries, such as obstetric fistula and training surgeons to perform fistula operations.

The desired outcomes are:

• Safer childbirth, the delivery of live babies, and mothers not injured during childbirth. (Reduction of morbidity and mortality of women & babies)
• The protection of young women and girls from harmful traditional practices.
• Greater quality and efficiency in childbirth services provided by trained, local midwives and health and medical professionals.
• Access to free, quality medical services, emergency obstetric care & improved/new facilities for poor women, particularly those in remote areas.
• Improved access to, and co-ordination of fistula treatment.
• The continued build of an evidence-base for effective maternal health intervention.