Give Women Recovering from Fistula a Bright Future

Dear Friends,

Women living with obstetric fistula are true heroines. After surviving prolonged and/or obstructed labor – often losing a child and sometimes narrowly escaping death in the process – they live for months or years burdened by chronic incontinence and all that comes with that condition: stigma, misconceptions and isolation. On average, fistula patients at CCBRT have lived with the condition for seven years. Many women don’t realize that they can be “cured” through surgery and rehabilitation. Of those who do, many do not know how to access treatment, or don’t believe they can afford it.

That’s where we come in.

Through our local partner, CCBRT, we provide life-changing, holistic treatment to women with fistula in Tanzania and raise awareness about fistula nationwide. In addition to providing surgery and physical rehabilitation, our expert staff offer health education, counseling, family planning consultations and crafts training. All services – including transportation to and from the hospital, food and accommodation during treatment – are provided completely free of charge.

With your support, we’re ensuring that women living with obstetric fistula have access to quality healthcare and inclusion. Your donation today will be amplified through GlobalGiving’s 2018 Giving Tuesday matching funds campaign.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, so far this year CCBRT has:

• Provided 488 fistula surgeries
• Reached 658 women living with fistula with holistic care services
• Trained over 200 Community Health Workers and others to become fistula ambassadors, who identify and refer fistula patients for treatment.

Walking through the hospital’s halls, CCBRT COO Brenda Msangi sees the profound impact that our high quality healthcare services have on our patients and their families every day.

As Brenda shares in this video, your support is instrumental, enabling us to provide the comprehensive care our patients need and deserve – but otherwise couldn’t afford.

For women affected by fistula, CCBRT’s services offer physical, emotional and financial relief – as well as hope for the future. Ninety-five percent of our patients in 2018 reported feeling more accepted and supported by their community after their surgery.

For these reasons, Brenda and I are asking you to please join us in giving the gift of health and hope to a woman with obstetric fistula by making a donation today. All donations we receive today, on Giving Tuesday, will help us earn a share of $150,000 in matching funds and bonus prizes from GlobalGiving – meaning that your gift goes further to change lives. Recurring monthly donations up to $200 will be matched at 100%.

Thank you for your incredible support and for being part of the Kupona family – we couldn’t do this without you.

With gratitude,

Abbey
Executive Director

Links:

• A video update from our partner's COO, Brenda Msangi