HEALTH PROJECTS
Improving Women’s Health: FUWANA’s Fistula Recovery Pilot project in Guinea and Follow up Fistula program in Mali, Senegal and Mauritania.
Obstetric fistula is a reproductive health problem formed as sequelae of prolonged obstructed labor. It is a chronic illness that disrupts women lives, causing stigma and isolation. After a successful campaign in support of fistula patients in Guinea, FUWANA extended its support to fistula-affected women in Senegal (2020), Mali (2023), and Mauritania (2024).
Guinea fistula project:
Country: Guinea
Partner: Coalition des Femmes Leaders (COFEL)
Results: 50 recovered fistula patients started small income generating activities
In 2018, FUWANA in collaboration with Coalition des Femmes Leaders supported recovery and social reintegration of fifty fistula patients. FUWANA’s purchased sanitation kits to women pre-surgery and provided small grants to support women’s post-surgery income generation activities.
Senegal Fistula
Country: Senegal
Partner: MARFO Centre
Results: 18 recovered fistula patients started income-generating activities and social rehabilitation
In March 2020, FUWANA extended its Fistula Recovery program to Senegal, where it collaborated with the MARFO Center to identify and economically empower recovering patients. Most of the patients struggle economically because of the social stigma associated with the disease and lack of family support. FUWANA enabled eighteen former fistula patients start small income generating activities through small grants.
The MARFO Center, which abides by its slogan “We empower women!”, used to receive an average of 120 women per year, provide accommodation before and after the surgery, psychological support, as well as preparation for social re-integration, including training and small grant support. During the COVID 19 pandemic, the center stopped receiving patients but directed them to hospitals where they received free care and rehabilitation support.
Mali Fistula project
Country: Mali
Partner: Oasis Fistula Center (Kati CHU)
Results: 15 recovered fistula patients awarded small grants to start income-generating activities
In March 2023, a few FUWANA members traveled to Kati, Mali to structure a medical and social rehabilitation program for fifteen patients of the Oasis Fistula Center in consultation with the center coordinator, the chief nurse and the beneficiaries. Social stigma associated with fistula often leads to families and communities rejecting the sick women, which are left with no means for survival. At Oasis, FUWANA rolled out a grant program to finance post-recovery income-generating activities for women, unable them to return to their villages. The program allowed fifteen patients to leave the hospital and begin social reintegration, while vacating the beds for new patients who need urgent medical care.
As a follow up, FUWANA team is currently accepting donations for obstetrical surgery kits, which are in shortage at the Oasis center.
Mauritania Fistula project
Country: Mauritania
Partner: Local NGOs
Results: 15 fistula patients will receive small grants to start income-generating activities.
In February 2024, the Mauritania Fistula Recovery project covered the costs and expenses of the reintegration of 20 fistula patients into their respective communities. FUWANA members visited Nouakchott in the to plan project execution with local partners.
