Volume 1 Issue 1 January-June 2012 TERREWODE: empowering women and girls of Uganda The Association for the Re - orientation and Rehabilitation of Women for Development P UTTING OBSTETRIC FISTULA ON THE NATIONAL AGENDA: T HE BIRTH OF TERREWODE fistula. Fistula is a childbirth between men and women injury which results in the irrespective of gender, TERREWODE’s vision is formation of a hole between religion, cultural beliefs, e m p o w e r e d w o m e n , the woman’s birth canal and age, and race; to c h i ld r en , a n d yo uth her bladder or, less continuously pursue embracing the world with commonly, her rectum. This knowledge and learning as improved livelihoods. Their leaves the woman a p r e - requisite for mission is to empower incontinent of urine and/or professionalism; to women, children, and youth feces. When this occurs, a empower and inspire to actively participate in woman is often rejected by women and girls to demand development activities to her community and forced for full enjoyment of their improve their livelihoods, into a life of poverty. It is human rights; and to be and that of their families not uncommon for her land transparent and and communities. TERRE- to be taken from her or for accountable to their clients, TERREWODE is head-quartered WODE’s main concern is the her to suffer domestic partners, stakeholders and in Soroti, located within the Teso to each other in all the region shown in green above. deteriorating reproductive violence. and maternal health In order to mitigate the business that relate to the TERREWODE, a Ugandan- situations among Ugandan situation and improve the work of TERREWODE. based non-governmental women. lives of these women, The organization began organization, was founded in TERREWODE seeks to TERREWODE seeks to its work in the Teso region 1999 by women of the Teso effectively address the nurture and enhance strong and has since been asked region who were committed b r o a d e r i s s u e o f beliefs in the power of to expand nationally. Given to improving the lives and reproductive health and to collective women action and its humble roots, it has statuses of women and girl find treatment, prevention, self-sacrifice to achieve the accomplished much. children. and rehabilitation services enjoyment of human rights for victims of obstetric for all; to promote equality WOMEN DELIVER GIVES TERREWODE I NTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION Despite its small start, and women. who are suffering from TERREWODE has expanded Out of hundreds of obstetric fistula with its reach and improved its submissions from countries treatment, counseling, and status in the realm of NGOs around the world, a social reintegration through an internationally- selection committee of services. The program recognized honor given by experts and advocates from trains a diverse set of the organization Women leading global NGOs and volunteers to serve as Deliver. foundations narrowed the advocates, identify and Every year in conjunction entries to 125 finalists. support obstetric fistula international level and has with International Women’s These were then voted on survivors, and educate their opened the door for Day, Women Deliver, a by more than 6,000 communities. future success. g l o b a l a d v o c a c y individuals to select the Through community-wide Following this award, organization, celebrates the winners. collaborations, the network TERREWODE has launched progress made on behalf of Through these efforts, raises awareness of fistula the Obstetric Fistula girls and women worldwide. TERREWODE received the and advocates for women’s Alliance in the Teso region The Women Deliver 50 is honor of being selected health and political rights. of Uganda, a diverse group a compilation of the most among the top 125 for their This honor bestowed upon of individuals and inspiring ideas and solutions Obstetric Fistula Awareness TERREWODE for its work in organizations that help tap that are calling for action to and Advocacy Network. The Women’s Rights has into available resources for improve the health of girls network provides women improved its visibility at the fistula survivors in the community. Page 2 TERREWODE: empowering women and girls of Uganda TERREWODE F OUNDER AND DIRECTOR: A LICE E MASU something to help. In 1999, Washington University’s Because of her past as a she became a journalist with Brown School of Social journalist, Emasu has New Vision, Uganda’s Work. Emasu also received strong communication skills leading English newspaper. the honor of being named in and a unique ability to Four times during her years the top 3 high-impact convey her ideas and as a journalist, Alice women in Uganda for her insights to a wide-variety of received the honors of Best grassroots work in Maternal audiences in a very Journalist for her activism Health and Women’s Rights compelling way. She has surrounding population and in rural Uganda by been invited by the UNFPA women’s issues in rural New Vision. and the Ugandan Ministry of areas. In 2011, Emasu was Health to assist with the Emasu soon gave up named an Ashoka Fellow. development of the journalism and in 2007 went Ashoka Fellows are national obstetric fistula to receive her Masters in entrepreneurs who are strategy—the first major Social Work with a focus on recognized to have step that the government Alice Emasu, Founder and women’s health from Wash- innovative solutions to has taken to eliminate Director of TERREWODE ington University in the US. social problems and the fistula. Using her talents and potential to change patterns Her dedication and innovative ideas, Emasu has across society. They passion for the women of Alice Emasu, founder and worked to make obstetric demonstrate unrivaled the Teso region of Uganda director of TERREWODE, is fistula a tragedy of the past. commitment to bold new have driven the success of an integral part of the She works efficiently and ideas and prove that TERREWODE, helping it be organization, driving forth incredibly, aptly managing compassion, creativity, and named in the top 15 its success with her the little resources that collaboration are grantees from among passion. For her, the fistula TERREWODE has. She has tremendous forces for thousands of European campaign is a passion that received many honors and change. All Ashoka Fellows Union (EU) grassroots grant started years ago when she awards for her innovative undergo a rigorous search recipients around the world would go home from school work in women’s health and and selection process. From by the EU. on holiday. Visiting her empowerment in rural nomination to election as a home village and Uganda. Fellow, candidates go “Her dedication and passion for discovering that many of through an extensive series the women of the Teso region of her girlfriends had passed In 2010, Alice was of in-depth interviews, a away during childbirth awarded the Dr. Clara Uganda have driven the success judging panel, and a final invoked in Emasu a Louise Myers Outstanding executive board vote. of TERREWODE…” relentless desire to do Practicum Student Award by longest fistula resource in region. It was founded in P ARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS Teso but phased out its 2000 by Richard Haas and TERREWODE has Foundation, the Fund for services this past year. The his daughter after visiting partnered with many Global Human Rights, the Fistula Foundation is the the Addis Ababa Fistula organizations including the Independent Development lead partner to TERREWODE Hospital in Ethiopia. It African Medical Fund, the Norwegian Human and is moving towards currently helps fund Research Foundation Rights Fund, and the Urgent being the main funder for programs in 15 countries (AMREF), the Fistula Action Fund. AMREF was the fistula treatment in the Teso and 38 facilities worldwide. C HALLENGES to this shortfall, women are marriage and subsequent Network has made great often forced to endure long pregnancy is one of the strides to improve the Despite all of TERRE- waits and are discharged too main risk factors for situation in Soroti District, WODE’s progress, it still soon after treatment, before developing obstetric fistula, however, their work is not faces many challenges in its their bodies have had time to girl-child marriage is still finished. They are efforts to eradicate fistula. heal. This puts them at an very common in parts of dedicated to continuing Although there is a growing increased risk for rural Uganda. TERREWODE this important work by awareness of the issue and reoccurrence, as adherence is continuing to educate conducting outreach with increased commitment by to medical advice is often government officials and communities throughout the Ugandan government to challenged when one returns communities in order to Uganda until the chains of respond, Uganda is still home, mainly due to the prevent this tragedy. stigma, misunderstanding, lacking a national budget conditions of poverty. Stigma and and discrimination are and rehabilitation center, Another challenge is the discrimination shrouds fis- broken. and there is a huge deficit presence of child marriage. tula patients and survivors, in the health system’s Despite laws prohibiting the a situation hard to change. capacity to both prevent The Obstetric Fistula and treat the condition. Due practice and the well-known Awareness and Advocacy knowledge that early Page 3 OBSTETRIC FISTULA AWARENESS & ADVOCACY NETWORK Since 2001, TERREWODE identify obstetric fistula women’s health and political the causes of fistula, has worked to create a survivors and help connect rights, and promote working available treatment, and sustainable Obstetric Fistula them with TERREWODE to relationships with key prevention. It is successful Awareness and Advocacy seek treatment.