Amref Health Africa [to 23 May 2015]
http://amref.org/news/news/

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Let’s Restore Women’s Dignity
23 May 2015
Today is International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. Obstetric fistula (OF) are debilitating complications of obstructed labor, which result in uncontrollable leaking of urine and/or faeces, leading to devastating, stigmatized and dehumanizing conditions for the affected women. It is sad to note that this condition mostly affects poor, marginalised women in the developing world. There are at least two million women living with fistula, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia with 50,000 – 100,000 women and girls affected each year in Africa alone…

…The theme of this year’s International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, “End fistula, restore women’s dignity”, resonates completely with women who recover from this debilitating condition. Not only are they physically sound again, but they are able to rediscover their dignity, regain their place in community and start life anew. For many years Amref Health Africa has implemented fistula repair programmes across East Africa, Malawi and other areas to promote safe motherhood and contribute to ending obstetric fistula. Amref Health Africa’s comprehensive prevention and management of fistula is improving women’s and communities’ health contributing to lasting health change in Africa.

On this International Day to End Fistula, Amref Health Africa renews its commitment to working with governments, development partners and civil society organisations to:
:: Explore innovative ways of engaging communities to promote prevention and management of fistula
:: Work hand-in-hand with relevant bodies and institutions to build skills of frontline health workers in preventing and managing fistula
:: Increase health education among girls and women and the community at large to end fistula
:: Implement quality programmes to end stigma surrounding fistula and restore the dignity of women who are suffering from fistula

Amref Health Africa realises that governments are solely responsible for ensuring the right to health for their citizens and commits to supporting the governments to meet this objective. To that extent, Amref Health Africa urges governments as well as their development partners to meet the following obligations for accelerating the abandonment of female genital cutting, one of the contributing factors to fistula:
:: Replace female genital cutting by adopting alternative rites of passage
:: Allocate adequate resources to support the empowerment of women and adolescents
:: Ensure frontline workers are knowledgeable and skilled in the prevention and management of fistula
:: Support the implementation of innovative programs to empower communities to promote maternal and newborn health
:: Ensure adequate resources are in place to sustain youth-friendly health facilities and access to sexual health and reproductive rights education among youth.

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Amref Health Africa Signs MOU with Kenya School of Government
Published: 21 May 2015 Marie Kinyanjui
Amref Health Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kenya School of Government (KSG) on 15th May 2015, to collaborate in training, research and consultancy. Specifically, the two institutions will collaborate in delivery of training programs at County level in Kenya, jointly bid for funding and utilize their respective training faculty to conduct courses as well as consultancy work.