A conversation can open the door to care. 💙 In Kakamega, WADADIA’s male involvement leaders engage communities to challenge fistula stigma, encourage early identification and referral, and champion women’s dignity. #WADADIA #FistulaCare

Today, we honour Anarcha Westcott. She was a 17-year enslaved girl who underwent roughly 30 operations without anaesthesia for a vesicovaginal fistula ( abnormal connection between vagina and bladder= urine coming through your vagina). She healed after this surgery. James Marion Sim (we refuse to refer to him as doctor) was the racist man who performed these surgeries on her and is denoted as the father of gynaecology. However, we would like to say Anarcha is the mother of gynaecology. Without her strength, grit, and bravery, she wouldn't have survived those procedures. We couldn't imagine doing surgery on someone without some form of anaesthesia. Black history is America's history. The story must be told even when it's not pretty.

Yesterday our teams took to Moyamba, Bonthe and Bo districts to raise awareness of obstetric fistula and the free treatment available at our @AbWomensCentre Fistula is preventable💙Fistula can be treated 💙 #wefixfistula #endfistula #aberdeenwomenscentre #sierraleone