More than $40,000 has been raised for the Barbara May Foundation at a fundraiser held at the Avoca Beach Surf Club on September 17 where Dr Andrew Browning was guest speaker.
Obstetric missionary surgeon Browning and retired ophthalmologist turned MC, Dr Phil Hayes, teamed up for the fundraiser.
Browning, who has just returned from operating in Nepal, said the fundraiser, attended by 175 people, raised enough money to treat 160 women in Africa.
“This was a really timely fundraiser because the inaugural Central Coast fundraiser for the Barbara May Foundation was held in 2019 but there have been none since due to the COVID outbreak,” Browning said.
“Right around the developing world, and none more so than in Africa, the need is greater than ever to cure isolating and debilitating fistula in women who do not have access to doctors who can conduct cesarean section.
“Increasingly, we are trying to stop fistula developing in the first place so the money raised is enough to provide antenatal checks, delivery (including a caesarean if needed) and then postnatal checks for 160 women.
“By doing this, lives are saved in pregnancy and fistula injuries prevented.”
Browning, who spoke on his work in Africa and his book A Doctor in Africa, said fundraisers rely on volunteers and donors and he thanked all those who had contributed to the evening.
“For more than 20 years I have been privileged to operate, with the support of the Barbara May Foundation, on more than 7000 women living with obstetric fistulas in Africa and other places,” he said.
“Obstetric fistula come about after a long, obstructed labour that, without access to a hospital and a doctor who can perform a caesarean, can last up to 7-10 days leaving the mother delivering a stillborn child and with a hole in her bladder, caused by tissue death.
“This is unheard of in Australia but with more than two million women in Africa suffering with this debilitating and isolating condition it is quite common.
“The Barbara May Foundation provides fistula repair and prevention through good maternal healthcare at no cost – simply because people, just like those last Saturday, donate money to help operate our hospitals across Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
“I lived and operated in Africa for 17 years and now travel from Copacabana to Africa four-five times a year to continue operating on the women.”
More information can be found at barbaramayfoundation.com or Face Book https://www.facebook.com/barbaramayfoundation.
Source:
Media release, Sep 21
Barbara May Foundation