This came through my door yesterday and I'm defnitely signing up.
It's a charity called Ethiopiaid that supports the Addis Ababa Fistula hospital.
They say ' In Ethiopia, without the medical facilities that we take for granted in the West, childbirth is extremely dangerous. A fistula victim not only loses her child during labour but is also rendered completely incontinent by her injuries. The fate of many is to become a social outcase within their own village'.
'Once at the hospital, patients receive love and care that will change their lives forever. The surgeons have devoted their lives to helping fistula victims, but they rely totally on voluntary donations to support their work'
They give an example of one woman.
'Dasach sat in the corner of the Hospital reception room. She looked frail and frightened. She was surprisingly dignified despite the fact that there was a puddle of urine beneath her chair. She had suffered an obstructed labour for 5 days eventually delivering a dead baby. The trauma had forced a hole in her bladder resulting in incontinence. Her husband soon left her.
Dr Hamlin explained to Dasach what had happened and how the fistula caused by her proctracted labour could be cured by a simple operation. Striving to heal Dasach's battered spirit as well as her wound she continued 'We are going to give you a new body, a new dress and the bus fare home' and with this she took a pink and white dress and held it against her. Dasach began to smile but tears were never far away'
Sorry to those who don't like this sort of stuff on the site but I found it so moving and I think that we in the West are so fortunate in so many, many ways. I wanted to put it out there. There's more info at www.ethiopiaid.org.uk