A World Help team just returned from Ethiopia, where women suffering from a birth injury called obstetric fistula are finding hope for the future.
Over half of Ethiopia’s population lives below the poverty line, and most impoverished households are located in rural areas. Expecting mothers living in these isolated communities often can’t afford or access proper medical care.
As a result, women can develop an obstetric fistula during childbirth. Often, this injury causes complications like stillbirth and infection. Left untreated, obstetric fistulas can also cause women to be rejected by their families and communities.
That’s exactly what happened to Awawu.
A Life-Altering Complication
Awawu suffered years of hardship and struggle
At just 18 years old, Awawu was kidnapped and forced into marriage. Soon, she became pregnant with her first child.
During the birth, Awawu immediately knew something was wrong.
“I was in labor for four days,” she said.
Despite her distress, Awawu couldn’t access the emergency medical care she desperately needed. As a result, her baby died, and Awawu developed an obstetric fistula.
In the following weeks, Awawu felt completely alone. Obstetric fistula causes incontinence, which leads to the stigma that women who develop it are “cursed.” These untrue assumptions and beliefs surrounding Awawu’s injury drove her community away, and the isolation only added to her grief.
“No one came to my house to visit me,” Awawu said. “They didn’t think I was worthy.”
Hope for Healing
For months, Awawu didn’t know where to go for help
After three months of suffering, Awawu’s father began researching options for recovery and treatment. Soon, he discovered the opportunity for corrective surgery.
The hospital was far away, but Awawu and her father knew the distance would be worth it. She traveled to receive the surgery and stayed in the hospital for 24 days.
“I was scared, but at the same time hopeful that I might be healed,” she said.
Even so, Awawu didn’t know how she’d be able to continue recovering once she returned home. Since she lived in such a rural community, she wouldn’t have access to the medical treatment she needed for her long-term recovery.
Finding Purpose
After her sugery and recovery, Awawu wanted to help other mothers like her
That’s when Awawu discovered our partner’s Safe Motherhood Ambassador program. Their facility offers rehab for mothers recovering from obstetric fistula. Awawu made a full recovery through the program, and it transformed her life!
“People are now changed,” she said. “They want to come and visit and spend time with me. It’s not like before.”
Filled with hope, Awawu became passionate about helping women like her at risk of obstetric fistula. So, she trained to become a Safe Motherhood Ambassador herself.
Now, Awawu travels around her community, educating women and mothers on the risks of obstetric fistula and how to prevent it.
“I go to church and teach there,” Awawu said. “I also go to the market and health center — I teach them how to help prevent fistula.”
Awawu spends time traveling around her community to help keep women safe
Awawu also helps disprove the stereotypes and beliefs surrounding obstetric fistula, allowing community members to gain a full understanding of the injury and have compassion for mothers suffering from it.
“In the past, people didn’t know what the problem of fistula was,” she explained. “But more and more, people are learning from me about fistula and how to prevent it.”
And that’s not all!
With support from the World Help family, our partners were also able to provide Awawu with her very own cow. Now, she has the resources she needs to support her family and ensure her children have a secure future.
With her new cow, Awawu now has the resources she needs to support her family
“People come. I give them what I have,” Awawu said. “I can send my children to school, feed my family.”
You Can Make a Global Impact!
Awawu is just one example of the incredible impact our World Help family has made all around the world. And here’s the good news — you can transform lives, too!
You can transform lives in places like Ethiopia around the world!
When you give where needed most, you can provide essentials like food, clean water, medical care, God’s Word, and more for people in need like Awawu. Your gift will help meet physical needs and demonstrate God’s love worldwide!
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