Worldwide Fistula Fund

International Day of the Girl is a significant global observance celebrated annually on October 11th. It aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls around the world face while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. It's also a day to support initiatives that empower girls to reach their full potential. Under the leadership of LEFI Founder and Executive Director Sarah Omega, Young Champion Fistula Clubs were launched with 108 adolescent and teen members in 2021. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Clubs teach adolescents and teens from all regional schools how to reduce their childbirth injury risk & promotes education and economic independence over early marriage. Educating teens, about safe motherhood not only imparts essential knowledge but also contributes to reducing maternal mortality and improving overall reproductive health. Additionally, teaching economic empowerment skills provides them with the tools they need to secure a better future for themselves and their communities. Today you can help empower girls in 5 African countries. Your support will contribute to a global movement that aims to create a world where every girl can live her life to the fullest potential. . #DayoftheGirl #empoweringgirls #girlpower #endfistula

News From WFF: After nearly 10 years at WFF, Soja Orlowski has stepped down as Executive Director. Soja worked closely with our remarkable Country Leaders in five countries, contributing to WFF’s mission. We are grateful for her leadership and accomplishments. "I am so humbled by the dedication of Dr. Itengre in Burkina Faso, Sarah Omega in Kenya, Alice Emasu in Uganda, and Drs. Ryan and Chelsea Porter in Niger. In Ethiopia, our “train the trainers” partnership with Mekelle University has led to multiple ongoing medical education programs - it has been inspiring to watch former residents and Fellows now lead those programs." - Soja Orlowski Liz Crawford has been named as the new Executive Director. Under the leadership of our Board Chair, Mary Rose Keller, WFF is entering an exciting phase, poised for growth and new opportunities. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Soja for her invaluable contributions to WFF, and wish her continued success. We are pleased to welcome Liz as she joins the organization.

Building Capacity in 5 Countries Developing local leadership in partner countries is where Worldwide Fistula Fund excels, and we are very proud of how much we have accomplished to date. Thanks to your support we have made considerable impact in 5 countries. This Impact Report highlights how far our WFF country leaders, and their NGOs have come, from humble beginnings. By country, the Impact Report details the growth and development of local leadership and their capacity to treat and empower ever more women as well as educate communities in prevention. We share important highlights for every country. Read Report: https://lnkd.in/dBGP4hX5

Welcome Phillip W. McCreary to the WSG Board of Directors! Phillip W. McCreary, PharmD, MBA, MACS, is currently the Medication Access Program Director at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, TN. In this role, Dr. McCreary leverages all available resources to help indigent, uninsured, and underinsured patients gain access to needed medications. He is also a preceptor of PharmD students for Belmont University, Lipscomb University, University of Mississippi, Union University, and University of Tennessee. After earning his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, he then earned his Master of Business Administration from Campbellsville University and later his Master of Arts in Christian Studies from the University of the Cumberlands. He started his pharmacy career as the Director of Pharmacy at a rural hospital in Central Kentucky for several years before moving to West Africa to work with SIM in various pharmacy and educational roles, where he still works from time to time. He continues to serve on the Health Ministries Team (HMT) with SIM. His passion for the underserved community has helped shape his career.

We are excited to announce the addition of two new board members to our team! Today, meet Eugenia Chidembo. Eugenia Chidembo is a dedicated scientist with a BSc in Applied Biology & Biochemistry from the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe. Upon immigrating to the United States in 1999, she pursued advanced studies in biochemistry with an emphasis on proteomics at the University of Nevada, Reno, NV. Since 2005, Eugenia’s professional journey within major US corporations has encompassed scientific research, quality assurance, and compliance. Working collaboratively with individuals from diverse roles, her career responsibilities include providing professional development training for colleagues, mentoring, and auditing clinical research organizations and investigator sites. Her extensive experience reflects a commitment to excellence and a passion for advancing scientific knowledge in a collaborative and compliance-focused environment. Eugenia currently serves as Assistant Director, GLP/GCP Quality Assurance and Compliance at Ionis Pharmaceuticals in Carlsbad, CA. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Eugenia has made significant contributions as a volunteer teacher and mentor in both Zimbabwe and the US.

Thanks to you, our Partners help drive national strategies to address childbirth injuries. We believe solving global problems such as devastating childbirth injuries requires a commitment to collaborate with, support, and develop local leaders. Our partners need your support to continue providing surgeries, delivering empowerment training, and education to prevent and treat childbirth injuries for vulnerable women. To learn more about our country partners and support our May fundraising campaign visit: https://lnkd.in/gvVwQHsU . . #EndFistula #fistula #SafeMotherhood #terrewode #LEFI #ARENA #Ethiopia #MekelleUniversity #DanjaFistulaCenter #empowerwomen

Together, we can reach more women like Doris and create lasting change. Doris, a mother of five and grandmother of sixteen, faced immense challenges after developing a fistula during the birth of her first child. For two decades, she endured a life of isolation and shame, unable to fully participate in society. When the Let’s End Fistula Initiative (LEFI) visited Chetais Hospital, Doris learned that healing was possible. With renewed hope, she traveled to Kakemega, Kenya, for the surgical treatment that would transform her life. Upon returning home, Doris joined a solidarity group for financial empowerment and support. Encouraged to pursue a small business, she received training and a micro-loan to launch a retail shop. Doris used the proceeds to buy land and expand her business, enabling her to support her family and provide an education for her children. By making a gift today, you are investing in the resilience and potential of every woman we serve. Double your impact with a gift by May 31st. wffund.org #endfistula #fistula #empowerwomen #motherhood #LEFI #RestoreDignity #safemotherhood

May 23rd is the United Nations’ International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. The women we serve may not know their fistula, pelvic organ prolapse, or other childbirth injury can be treated and cured. Approximately 2 million women live with untreated obstetric fistula.  Your support has helped our local partners reach 1,874,000+ community members with Prevention and Free Treatment messaging, provide 5,400+ free surgeries, and economic empowerment training to 3,260+ women across 5 African countries. Survivors are eager to give back and prevent other women from going through what they did.  The cost of fistula care often proves to be a barrier for an already poor woman, and her right to live her best life: physically, psychologically, and economically. Double your gift by May 31st to reach, heal, and empower more women. Thank you for changing lives. To learn more about obstetric fistula and ways to support visit: wffund.org Photo: Dr. Holly Richter, WFF Board Secretary with survivor at Danja Fistula Center - Niger #endfistula #internationaldaytoendobstetricfistula #safemotherhood #empowerment #empowerwomen #fustula

Our Niger Trip: Dr. Holly Richter and Dr. Hannah Chapman March 30 – April 13, 2024, Danja Fistula Center Site Visit Dr. Holly Richter, WFF Board Secretary and The Endowed Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), accompanied by her UAB Urogynecology Fellow, Dr. Hannah Chapman, visited Niger to work alongside DFC Fistula Surgeon, Dr. Chelsea Porter, who is completing her FIGO Certification. Drs. Richter and Chapman had multiple goals for the trip: 1) Deliver healing surgical care for 20-30 women awaiting service, 2) Observe & provide feedback for Dr. Porter’s work alongside them on less familiar or more complex childbirth injury procedures, and 3) Revisit the patient data collection system from intake assessment to 6-month post-operative follow-up (set-up previously) with “refresher” system training for Dr. Porter. During this 2-week surgical campaign, the team of Drs. Richter, Chapman and Porter delivered 24 healing surgical transformations. Dr. Chapman additionally assisted the DFC team by updating patient data. All of this data is necessary both for reporting back to funding partners and for ongoing clinical and impact analysis. As a bonus, Drs. Richter and Chapman attended the graduation ceremony for women from the vocational-social reintegration program. “This trip really affirms the importance of the work we do. Some women never thought they could be cured. Now, here they are healed AND able to earn income with the skills we taught them!” WFF wishes our donors could witness first-hand how women’s lives are transformed: watch your inbox or visit wffund.org for patient testimonials from this trip! #EndFistula #fistula #EmpowerWomen #RestoreDignity #Niger #fistulasurgery

First Quarter Progress: A message from WFF Executive Director, Soja Orlowski Your commitment to preventing and treating childbirth injuries is most appreciated and enables our partners to continue identifying patients, providing surgeries, and delivering empowerment training for women in 5 African countries. I continue to have regular calls with all of our grantees to stay abreast of their activities and troubleshoot when they face challenges. Here is my first quarter 2024 programs update based on those personal calls. Read Full Letter > https://lnkd.in/gaijE6Gz