The women at the VVF Center have a graduation every tuesday to celebrate those who have recovered from surgery and are not leaking anymore. Most are village women who have little access to health care. Here they are singing and dancing with thanksgiving because they have been healed and have a new freedom. The Fistula occurs in women who have had prolonged labor, and creates a hole or Fistula in the rectum and/or bladder which results in incontinence of urine and stool. These women are considered outcasts and driven from their homes. Having been rejected by their husbands and families they come desperate for help. At the VVF they receive free surgery to correct the problem and stay several months in recovery. For these women having this surgery is like having a new life. They go from being the untouchables to being accepted as members of the community once again. A good majority of the women are muslims and become Christians while in this program because they are shown God's love and compassion in a way they have never experienced.
This is Dosono and her baby Emembe. She is a patient at the VVF and also HIV positive. She traveled from another state and lives in the village. Dosono speaks neither Hausa or English. Her tribal language is called Tieve. In Tieve Emembe means "rejoice!" I first met her two months ago just shortly after she gave birth. After just finding out she was HIV positive she started on ARV's with our free drug program. Dosono's other three children have all died and she came to us with precious Emembe who was not gaining weight and looking sickly. I have been visiting her several times per week to teach her how to feed and care for the baby. Prevention has been the key for Emembe. Without quick intervention and improvement in feeding, Dosono would have been mourning a fourth child. She has been discouraged from breastfeeding and comes in weekly for infant formula. Her demeanor at first was downcast but now that Emembe has gained weight and is doing so well, she has a smile on her face. It has been such a joy to see Dosono truly "rejoicing" with a new hope for this child. She will stay at the center another three months for further recovery and then go back to her village. We pray as she returns the baby will continue to thrive, and that when the time comes to test that Emembe will be free of the HIV virus. Please pray for her as she cares for this child and deals with the reality of this disease.
The women at the VVF Center have a graduation every tuesday to celebrate those who have recovered from surgery and are not leaking anymore. Most are village women who have little access to health care. Here they are singing and dancing with thanksgiving because they have been healed and have a new freedom. The Fistula occurs in women who have had prolonged labor, and creates a hole or Fistula in the rectum and/or bladder which results in incontinence of urine and stool. These women are considered outcasts and driven from their homes. Having been rejected by their husbands and families they come desperate for help. At the VVF they receive free surgery to correct the problem and stay several months in recovery. For these women having this surgery is like having a new life. They go from being the untouchables to being accepted as members of the community once again. A good majority of the women are muslims and become Christians while in this program because they are shown God's love and compassion in a way they have never experienced.
This is Dosono and her baby Emembe. She is a patient at the VVF and also HIV positive. She traveled from another state and lives in the village. Dosono speaks neither Hausa or English. Her tribal language is called Tieve. In Tieve Emembe means "rejoice!" I first met her two months ago just shortly after she gave birth. After just finding out she was HIV positive she started on ARV's with our free drug program. Dosono's other three children have all died and she came to us with precious Emembe who was not gaining weight and looking sickly. I have been visiting her several times per week to teach her how to feed and care for the baby. Prevention has been the key for Emembe. Without quick intervention and improvement in feeding, Dosono would have been mourning a fourth child. She has been discouraged from breastfeeding and comes in weekly for infant formula. Her demeanor at first was downcast but now that Emembe has gained weight and is doing so well, she has a smile on her face. It has been such a joy to see Dosono truly "rejoicing" with a new hope for this child. She will stay at the center another three months for further recovery and then go back to her village. We pray as she returns the baby will continue to thrive, and that when the time comes to test that Emembe will be free of the HIV virus. Please pray for her as she cares for this child and deals with the reality of this disease.
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