Why Do We Work in Niger?

Niger has earned the dubious distinction of having the world’s highest birthrate. Not surprisingly, maternal mortality is one of the very highest in the world, as well. The Country Facts at right say it all for this poor, landlocked country. A daunting backlog of untreated fistula patients exists here, far in excess of the country’s treatment capacity.

What You Help Us Do in Niger

We're helping fund:

• Fistula surgeries
• Fistula surgery training
• Refurbishing and equipping operating theaters for two hospital facilities
• Improved referral links for two hospital facilities and local social support services and village women's groups for fistula patients before and after care

Where:
Central Maternity Hospital, Zinder
Naimey National Hospital Fistula Pavilion, Naimey
Danja Fistula Center, Danja

How much funding have we granted?
Danja Fistula Center, Danja: $50,000 in FY2011
Central Maternity Hospital and Naimey National Hospital Fistula Pavilion: $165,000 in FY2010

Who's our partner?
Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA) in Zinder and Naimey
Worldwide Fistula Fund in Danja

How will this help women in Niger?
How will this help women in Niger? Our capable WAHA colleagues oversaw a comprehensive project to help both of these hospital facilities and their dedicated medical staff teams function at optimal capacity. Ambitiously, WAHA's plans were aimed at increasing the number of fistula surgeries performed monthly from 5 to 20, and for surgeons to be capable of handling even the most complex cases. Our funding helped make this possible. We're deeply proud of this endeavor, which represents one of our first partnership efforts with WAHA.

The Worldwide Fistula Fund intends to provide surgical repair of obstetrical fistula free of cost and is committed to increase the capacity for surgical care by an ongoing program of surgical training. The Danja Fistula Centre is a new facility with 40 beds, three operating tables, long term hostel facilities, extensive rehabilitation and social reintegration capabilities and orientation towards whole person care. They are hoping that the Centre will grow rapidly to become of one the busiest centres in the world.