CCBRT (Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania), a partner of overseas disability charity CBM UK, recently welcomed former US President George Bush and his wife Laura to Dar Es Salaam.
The couple's visit came after the Bush Centre's Africa First Ladies Summit, which focused on ‘Investing in women, strengthening Africa’. In line with the theme of the summit, CCBRT took the opportunity to outline its efforts to rebuild the lives of women with obstetric fistula and to improve the level of healthcare available to expectant mothers and their newborns.
During their visit to CCBRT’s Obstetric Fistula department, the George and Laura Bush heard the story of Halima, a former patient, who suffered with fistula for six months before seeking treatment. Halima told them that she had been referred to hospital for treatment months earlier, yet despite advice from doctors, her family took her to a traditional healer. Convinced she was bewitched; Halima lived with incontinence for a further two months before she was identified by CCBRT’s community outreach team. She was finally referred for treatment free of charge, and her transport costs were covered via Vodafone M-PESA. Clearly moved by her story, President Bush embraced Halima at the end of her testimony and thanked the 40 women who had sung to welcome them.
On their departure, Mr and Mrs Bush praised CCBRT staff for their devoted care and commitment to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable groups of people in Tanzania.
Many women with obstetric fistula are unaware that their condition can be treated. CCBRT is raising awareness through outreach work, poster campaigns, mobile clinics, a network of ambassadors and adverts on Tanzanian radio.
Obstetric fistula occurs most often among impoverished girls and women, especially those living in regions without adequate medical services. It is almost entirely preventable, yet it is estimated that at least two million women in Africa, Asia and the Middle East are living with the condition and around 50,000 to 100,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
