Maternity
The prevention of fistula is only possible with women and girls having access to timely, quality maternal healthcare. Freedom From Fistula is committed to helping eradicate fistulas by offering maternal health support. We deliver up to 3000 babies per year and support another 1000+ being safely delivered at partner clinics. The free maternity care includes high quality pre and post natal care, as well as health education and access to family planning. Our training programme for local healthcare workers is ongoing and we support the training of student midwives when possible.
Our Aberdeen Women’s Centre in Sierra Leone takes a holistic approach to the care of women and children and in 2010 opened its own maternity unit to provide the highest standards of maternal healthcare for the women of Sierra Leone, thus preventing the occurrence of obstetric fistula in the first instance and ensuring a safe environment for childbirth. The Maternity is now the second busiest in Sierra Leone, delivering up to 3,000 babies each year.
In Sierra Leone the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) decreased from 1,682.4 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 442.8 per 100,000 live births in 2020. In Malawi the MMR decreased from 573.5 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 380.7 per 100,000 live births in 2020.*
Our impact in 2024
In Sierra Leone we safely delivered 2637 babies.
In Malawi we funded maternity services at 3 clinics to safely deliver 1025 babies: 487 at Achikonai Community Clinic, 383 at Mtengowantenga Catholic Hospital (MCH) and ensured another 155 mothers received ante-natal care at Chiluzi ANC.
Former fistula patients are offered FREE maternity care for future pregnancies
Fatu’s story
Fatu’s first surgery was not successful, as can be the case, so she had to go back with an appointment date for 2016. She came, surgery was done for the second time and was still unfortunately not successful. In March 2018 Fatu returned to AWC for a c-section after falling pregnant and although not completely dry was given a plug after the operation to help ease the symptoms of her fistula.
Fatu had been using the plug until she fell pregnant again in August 2020 and came to AWC, informing the nurses and returning frequently for check ups. Fatu safely delivered two beautiful babies through C-section at AWC on the 14th of April 2021.
Fatu is very happy and grateful to AWC for their support and relentless effort throughout her VVF surgeries and delivering process.
“Ah tell papa God tenki for e guidance n protection over me life tae to this time ya tday wae r d discharge na hospitul. R d tell d docta n nurs dem tendi for dem patience wae den get for take care of we, God go mus bless ouna all.”
Translation:
Fatu is saying thank you to God for his guidance and protection over her life and up to this time that she will be discharged from AWC Hospital. She is also saying thank you to the Doctors and Nurses for their patience and the time they spent taking care of her and her babies. May God bless all of us who supported her in different ways.
