The visit came following the Bush Centre's Africa First Ladies Summit, which focused on ‘Investing in women, strengthening Africa’. In line with the theme of the summit, CCBRT, based in Dar es Salaam took the opportunity to outline its efforts to rebuild the lives of women with Obstetric Fistula and to improve the level of healthcare available to expectant mothers and their newborns.
During their visit to CCBRT’s Obstetric Fistula department, the former president and his wife heard the story of Halima, a former patient, who at just 25 years old suffered with fistula for six months before finally seeking treatment. They listened intently as Halima told them how she had been referred to hospital for treatment months earlier. However, despite advice from doctors, her family took her to a traditional healer. Convinced she was bewitched; Halima lived with incontinence for a further 2 months before she was identified by CCBRT’s community outreach team. Halima was finally referred for treatment free of charge, and her transport costs were covered via Vodafone M-PESA. Clearly moved by her story, President Bush embraced Halima at the end of her testimony and thanked the 40 women that had sung to welcome them.
On their departure, Mr and Mrs Bush praised CCBRT for their, “devoted care and commitment to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable groups of people in Tanzania.”
Many women with Fistula are unaware that their condition can be treated. CCBRT is raising awareness through outreach work, poster campaigns, mobile clinics, a network of ambassadors and adverts on Tanzanian radio stations to inform people about the condition and where to access treatment.
Preventing and managing Obstetric Fistula contributes to improved maternal health, the fifth Millennium Development Goal. Obstructed labour occurs in 5% of live births and accounts for 8% of all maternal deaths. Obstetric fistula occurs most often among impoverished girls and women, especially those living in regions without adequate medical services. Affecting the most powerless members of society, it touches issues related to reproductive health and rights, gender equality and poverty.
Fistula is almost entirely preventable. It is estimated that at least 2 million women in Africa, Asia and the Middle East are living with the condition and around 50,000 to 100,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. Obstetric Fistula still exists because health care systems fail to provide accessible, quality maternal health care, including skilled care at birth, basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care, and affordable treatment of fistula. CBM together with its partners are working to provide accessible treatment to some of the most vulnerable women in Africa.
CBM Information
CBM, the overseas disability charity, is an international disability and development organisation committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities and those at risk of disability. CBM is working in over 70 of the poorest countries of the world and reaching more than 31million people each year.
- CBM supports health care for persons with disabilities and prevention of conditions which can lead to disability.
- CBM seeks to improve access to health care, education and rehabilitation services for people with visual, hearing, physical, intellectual or psychosocial impairments.
- CBM aims to mainstream disabilities into all aspects of development and empower people with disabilities to take an active role in their communities through inclusion in development projects and involvement in community initiatives.
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