Transformations
News from the Fistula Foundation, Fall 2006 Third New Mini-Hospital in IN THIS ISSUE Yirgalem Nears Completion Page 2 | Letter from Sister Ruth Kennedy, Liaison Officer The third of five Mini-Hospitals in the Southern-Ethiopian town of Yirgalem is for the Hamlin Fistula Hospitals nearly ready to open and begin serving patients. The Hospital has a 20 bed ward and when it is up and Page 3 | Hidden Danger: Childbirth and Pregnancy in running it expects to treat Developing Countries 350 to 400 patients a year. With this third Hospital, Page 3 | Tesfa Ineste in Dr. Hamlin will be over half Washington Prepares for big way toward achieving her December fundraiser dream of dramatically expanding her team's ability Page 4 | W.H.O. Goodwill to treat women all over Ambassador Liya Kebede helps Ethiopia. continued on page 3 launch Manual on Fistula New Mini-Hospital in Yirgalem Treatment at Fistula Hospital Page 5 | One Woman's Story: Foundation Earns Simenye
Page 5 | Foundation funds Better Business Bureau's Seal advanced training for Fistula Surgeon The Fistula Foundation is proud to truthfulness in have recently earned the Better Business fundraising practices. Page 5 | Bay Area Team raises Bureau's charitable seal for meeting all funds through Photography 20 of the BBB's Standards of Charity “As a relatively new Show Accountability. These standards were organization, the Foundation is very developed by the Better Business pleased to have met all 20 rigorous Page 6 | Louise Aldrich Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance to assist standards set forward by the Better Ketchum completes life journey donors in making sound giving Business Bureau”, said Foundation decisions and to foster public Executive Director, Kate Grant, who Page 6 | Artist Robert O. confidence in charitable organizations. added “We hope that this seal will Johnson Donates Original Work provide our donors with increased to the Foundation In order to qualify, nonprofit organiza - confidence that their gifts to the tions, such as the Fistula Foundation, Foundation will be used well”. demonstrate their compliance with the You will now see the BBB's seal proudly Better Business Bureau's Standards by displayed on the Foundation's website providing detailed documentation to and on printed materials. To learn show proper governance procedures, more, you can visit www.give.org financial manage ment policies, and or call our office. Letter from Sister Ruth Kennedy Dear Friends,
One of the most gratifying parts of our work is helping restore women who have more extensive injuries caused by prolonged and obstructed labor. In addition to fistula, some of our patients have nerve damage to their legs and feet, such as “dropped foot”. The work to rehabilitate these patients is done in our Physiotherapy Department.
I walked into the Physiotherapy Department this afternoon and saw eight little darling beauties. One on the bike, one sitting in a chair, the others standing and one “These are the women dear little soul lying on most to be pitied in the the couch. The music was playing; they each world. They're alone had two boiled potatoes and forgotten, bearing and sat there munching their snack. their injuries in silent Physiotherapy patients at the Fistula Hospital shame.” I went round and asked them where they came from, one from Sidama, one from Gojjam, one from -- Dr. Catherine Hamlin Gondar, one from Somalie, one from Afar and three from Oromiya. They represent five languages, not dialects but actual languages.
They cannot speak to each other but they talk, they touch, they smile and when doing their morning floor exercises they can all count in Amharic “One, two, three and up to ten” holding their little crippled legs up, or holding their pelvic floor muscles. The look of concentration is a picture of deep stubborn determina tion, that this is what it takes to get better.
Transformations You dear folk in the U.S.A. have sent us so much to help these precious young women and girls: the pads, the scarves, the jewelry, the crosses, the toiletries, the A publication of hose and clothes. You have sent banks of money to help us sooth and repair these tragic little bodies and hearts, bodies and minds crushed through no fault of The Fistula Foundation their own. 1171 Homestead Road Suite 265 God bless you all for this! Santa Clara, CA 95050
Tel: 408.249.9596 Ruth S Toll-free: 866.756.3700 Tesfa Inest
Fax: 408.244.7328 W
[email protected] E The Washington December at th
www.fistulafoundation.org N
Chairman of the T Health Organiza S of the business E will present awa T Sister Ruth Kennedy, obstetric fistula 2 | A Hospital Liaison Officer
L and award-winn Hidden Danger: Childbirth and Pregnancy in Developing Countries Maternal Death: a Developing Country Reality Total Deaths per year 529,000
“It should be an international scandal that the number Source: World Health Organization, of women dying in pregnancy worldwide has been UNICEF, and UNFPA 2000 stuck at over a half-million for a quarter-century.” -- Nicholas Kristof
Most women in the United States and other industrialized Developed Countries nations enter pregnancy with a great sense of anticipation. Developed Countries includes: Europe, Canada, the United States, And while first-time mothers here may wonder how Japan, Australia and New Zealand motherhood will change their life, very, very few worry that Africa pregnancy and childbirth might end their life. Tragically, Latin America and Oceania Asia the same can not be said for most women in Africa. Every minute, one woman in the world dies because of Saharan Africa is because few receive prenatal care. In pregnancy or childbirth and 99% of these deaths occur in addition, the majority give birth without the help of any developing countries. While the lifetime risk for an trained attendant, let alone a doctor. Also, on average, a American Woman dying due to pregnancy and childbirth is woman in Africa will have at least six pregnancies. All of just 1 in 2800, for a woman living in Sub-Saharan Africa, these factors increase the odds of maternal death the risk is 1 in 16. Part of the risk to women in Sub- dramatically.
Third New Mini-Hospital…
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Once all five of the Mini-Hospitals (the year the original Hospital in are up and running, Dr. Hamlin Addis opened). We want to be and her team anticipate that they able to cure many more fistula will be able to nearly triple their patients and to help prevent this patient treatment capacity. Dr. dreadful problem from occurring”.
# Hamlin has championed this None of this would be possible dramatic expansion: “We are without the help from donors embarking on the most extensive in the U.S., the U.K, and development program since1974 Australia. Ethiopia and location of Yirgalem Hospital from Virgalem te in Washington prepares for big December fundraiser n, DC area Tesfa Ineste Committee is preparing its main fundraising event for the year in early he Marriott Crystal Gateway in Crystal City, Virginia. The event will be chaired by Kassy Kebede, e Fistula Foundation Board of Directors, and his wife Liya Kebede, renowned supermodel and the World ation's Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. Members of Congress, members community and others with an interest in eradicating fistula will be invited to attend. The Committee ards to individuals who have contributed toward the betterment of women's health and particularly in Ethiopia. The program will feature guest speakers including Washington Times reporter Betsy Pisik | 3 | ning photographer Mary Calvert. The program will also feature an art show, music and entertainment. Board Of Directors
Abaynesh Asrat Ato Tekalign Gedamu W.H.O. Goodwill Ambassador (honorary) Liya Kebede helps Launch New Kate Grant (ex-officio) Deborah Harris Manual on Fistula Treatment at the Kassahun Kebede (Chair) Cleopatra Kiros Fistula Hospital Linda Levee Paul Allan Rosenfield, MD The World Health Organization Gerald Shefren, MD (W.H.O.) Goodwill Ambassador for Mary Tadesse Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Robert Tessler, Esq. Liya Kebede, helped launch a new Whitney Tilson manual on Fistula Treatment at the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa, Larry William, MD Ethiopia. The launch brought together heads of government and medical experts. It represents a major milestone in the fight against fistula because it is the first manual intended as a practical guide for use by health-care profes - sionals, policy-makers and community leaders. The W.H.O. plans to use the manual in countries around the world to help dramatically reduce the number World Health Organization Goodwill of women developing fistula. Ambassador Liya Kebede
At the event, Mrs. Kebede gave affected by fistula in Ethiopia and inspiring remarks to the assembled prevent future incidences from happen- guests. “Obstetric fistula has been ing in developing countries around the relatively neglected despite the devastat - globe by making sure that every woman ing impact it has on the lives of girls has access to skilled care during and women in developing countries... pregnancy and childbirth.” Mrs. Kebede It is my hope that the manual's guiding is the wife of Fistula Foundation principles will help women currently Board Chair Kassy Kebede.
Volunteers are indispensable (L-R): Terry Rodriguez, The Fistula Foundation is very fortunate to have several Jerry Goldstein, loyal and dedicated volunteers to help out in our office. Patricia Lydster, Betsy Lydster, The most important of those is Jerry Goldstein, who Anne Ferguson has been working at the Foundation offices at least one help assemble day a week for the last three years. Jerry is a retired newsletter High School Teacher and College Professor. The staff mailing. enjoys his weekly visits, and appreciates his sparkling wit and his hard work and dedication. | 4 One Woman's Story: Simenye In her own words... in labor for four days and on the place in Addis Ababa that could help fourth day, the baby came, but it was me and so he brought me here. I came I came to live with my cousin in dead. When the baby died, my here on Monday and the people here Oromia when my parents died a long husband left me. I think the baby died told me I will be cured. time ago. I was living with my cousin because I had a sickness when I was in a refugee camp when he chose a pregnant. I I haven't had my operation yet. I don't husband for me. I caught this know what I will feel. They say I will was married one year sickness from have the operation next week and that ago and I got the wind. my operation will be a simple one. pregnant right away. People said When I am cured, if my cousin will let During the labor, my that my body me, I want to stay here in Addis Ababa cousin and my was wounded. and work in someone's house. Other - husband and some My cousin wise, if I go back home to Oromia to neighbor women heard that my cousin, I'll go to school. were with me. I was there was a I'd like to go to school.
Dr. Ambaye Wolde Michael Foundation Funds advanced training for Fistula Surgeon Dr. Ambaye Wolde Michael
Dr. Ambaye is one of the most senior and valued members of Dr. Hamlin's team in Ethiopia. Therefore, the Foundation is pleased to fund a year's training for Dr. Ambaye at Leeds University in the United Kingdom to broaden her skills and make her even more valuable to the Hospital and its patients. Bay Area Team raises funds from Photography Show Like other donors, Madeline McGriff William's photographs. Anna McGehee was moved by hearing about the plight devoted countless hours to help frame of the fistula patients and the work of and mat Dr. William's work. (Many the Fistula Hospital. Her colleague, Dr. Foundation donors have seen some of Larry William, a long-time Fistula Dr. William's photographs gracing our Foundation Board Member, and a website and newsletters.) The Show was talented amateur photographer, a stunning success, raising over $7,000 provided her with an inspiration for in one day to help the Hospital and its how she could help raise funds to patients. The Foundation is indebted to support the Hospital. Together with her Madeline, Larry and their team for husband Dr. Issac V. Hardy, sisters all of their tremendous work. Lydia McGriff, Una Tutson and Elaine Thanks! Harrison, nieces Ericka McGriff-Parrish and Shannon McGriff-Smith, Madeline worked with Dr. William and other friends to host a Benefit Art Show. The show was held at the Nexus Gallery in Berkeley, California, featuring Dr. Dr. Larry William and Madeline McGriff | 5 Louise Aldrich Ketchum completes life journey Our mission: The Foundation was deeply honored by the many tribute gifts made by the The Fistula Foundation gener ous friends and family members of the late Louise Aldrich Ketchum of Mt. is dedicated to Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Ketchum restoring the health passed away in April and asked anyone and dignity to women wishing to make a memorial gifts to do injured in childbirth so to the Fistula Foundation, supporting the work of the Fistula Hospital in through support of the Ethiopia. The Foundation is very Hamlin Fistula Hospitals grateful for this support. The late Louise Aldrich Ketchum in Ethiopia.
Artist Robert O. Johnson Donates Original Work to the Foundation
San Jose, California artist Robert O. Johnson is known for his inspired portraits. Hearing about the work of Dr. Hamlin to repair the lives of otherwise forgotten women he volunteered to create an original portrait of Dr. Hamlin. The finished work depicts Dr. Hamlin in the varied facets of her work at the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia - showing her both performing surgery and tending to patients in one of the Hospital's long “Florence Nightingale” wards. Mr. Johnson's portrait brings to life Dr. Hamlin's dedicated efforts to ease the suffering of her young patients. The Foundation intends to reprint the picture to use as this year's Holiday card to our loyal and supportive donors. Please watch your mail this December for your own copy of this engaging work by Robert Johnson.
(866) 756-3700 [email protected] Artist, Robert O. Johnson www.fistulafoundation.org