Travel2help.org has had the good fortune to work with Ramona and Charmaine to raise more funds for the betterplace.org competition. As we are not a huge company, we don't have a lot of funds to spare, but we do what we can, and we hope to be able to do a lot more.
As part of the efforts of Travel2help.org AID, we will donate 50 EUR for each participant in our projects that enters the code "FISTULA" when applying. Ramona gets an automatic notification when that happens to ensure transparency, and to properly credit the people that help spread the message.
As a bonus, we will also give a discount of another 50 EUR to the participant themselves, who can keep it or choose to have that amount donated as well.
The terms of the offer:
The offer is valid for applications submitted until 1 year from now, that is until 10 September 2011.
The offer is *not* limited to members of Team Fight Fistulas on Kiva.org - friends, family or anyone who hears about this and applies using the code, earns 50 EUR for fistula operations.
It *is* possible to combine this offer with other offers and discounts.
The applicant must enter a coupon code: FISTULA when applying.
The funds donated (50 EUR) will be transferred to the "Help Ethiopian women with childbirth injuries" project on betterplace.org as soon as the applicant submits a deposit to Travel2help.org and thus becomes a participant.
The amount of discount for the participant (50 EUR) will be deducted by the final balance due. Alternatively, if the participant chooses so, it will also be donated.
The participants commit to supplying Travel2help.org with a journal of their experience (at least 1 entry per week) as well as pictures and if possible, video.
What is obstetric fistula? Obstetric fistula is an injury of childbearing that has been relatively neglected, despite the devastating impact it has on the lives of girls and women. It is usually caused by several days of obstructed labor, without timely medical intervention – typically a Caesarean section – to relieve the pressure. In as high as 90 percent of fistula cases, the baby will die and the woman is left with chronic incontinence. Fistula sufferers are often abandoned or neglected by their husbands and families and ostracized by their communities. Without treatment, prospects for work and family life for these women are greatly diminished and they are often left to rely on charity.
What are the medical consequences of fistula? Left untreated, fistula can lead to frequent ulcerations and infections, kidney disease and even death. Some women drink as little as possible to avoid leaking and become dehydrated. Damage to the nerves in the legs can leave some women unable to walk. These medical consequences, coupled with social and economic problems, often contribute to a general decline in health and well being that can result in early death.
What are the social consequences of fistula? Beyond these physical consequences, fistula often exacts a severe social toll. The social consequences of fistula include physical and emotional isolation, abandonment or divorce, ridicule and shame, infertility, lack of economic support, and the risk of violence and abuse.
Why does fistula occur? Fistula occurs when emergency obstetric care is not available to women who develop complications during childbirth. This is why women living in remote rural areas with little access to medical care are at risk. Before the medical advances of the 20th century, fistula was quite common in Europe and the United States. Today, fistula is almost unheard of in high-income countries, or in countries where obstetric care is widely available.
