Healing Hands of Joy opens its second rehabilitation center in Bahir Dar

Healing Hands of Joy (HHOJ), a nonprofit working to end obstetric fistula injury and make motherhood safer in Ethiopia, opened its second rehabilitation center in Bahir Dar in June of this year. Bahir Dar is the capital of the Amhara region, which has high rates of child marriage that contribute to the prevalence of obstetric fistula. Empowers Africa and the Quasha family helped fund the opening of this center.
The Quasha & Empowers Africa Bahir Dar Training Center will host two-week residential training and counseling programs for survivors of obstetric fistula. Graduates of the program become Safe Motherhood Ambassadors and return to their communities armed with skills to encourage good maternal health. Nearly half of the fistula survivors that HHOJ has trained are divorced – Empowers Africa has partnered with HHOJ to provide economic empowerment training so these women can become financially independent.
In July, HHOJ launched its regional-level fistula prevention and reintegration project to work collaboratively with community leaders and organizations in the Amhara region. Leaders from the Regional Health Bureau, the Amhara Women’s Association, Gonder International Fistula Training Institute, the Amhara Development Association and Hamlin Fistula (Bahir Dar) attended the launch event and enthusiastically welcomed HHOJ’s work to fill an unmet need in the region.
To learn more about HHOJ please visit www.healinghandsofjoy.com