Club Meeting

Sarah Hope spoke on behalf of the Freedom From Fistula Foundation, having first of all to explain to members how the condition fistula arises and its effect on the women afflicted with it.

In not too graphic terms it commonly arises from infection in pregnancy and birthing and if untreated leads to severe abdominal damage that can render a woman doubly incontinent.  Medical support for births is very sparse in many African countries and this condition is one of the serious consequences of this situation.

Women afflicted by fistula are often excluded from the local community and even abandoned by their families because of it, notably through the effects of incontinence.

The FFFF works by providing surgical interventions for fistula sufferers and developing the deployment and training of professional midwives.  A current focus is in Malawi where the recently elected President is introducing a range of programmes to improve community health and welfare, of which this is one.

More information can be found hereon the work of the Foundation and the scope for support for it by Rotary clubs.

Sarah held the attention of members throughout and dealt very informatively with the many questions triggered by her talk.

The vote of thanks was by Ronnie Nicol, Chair of the Club's International Service Committee.