PROJECTS

MAKE IT RIGHT- Reparative surgery and rehabilitative medical treatments for Fistula and Prolapse due to sexual violence or obstetric trauma for women and girls in DRC.

Fistula is a tear between the vagina and/or rectum caused by trauma. There are two types of fistula: one caused by traumatic childbirth known as obstetric fistula and the other caused by rape of excessive force or the use of foreign objects.

Similarly, pelvic floor prolapse (POP) is often the result of childbirth trauma or sexual violence inflicted on young girls when they are forced to marry and bear children at a young age.

At HEAL Africa hospital, a world renowned medical centre in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, a relatively simple and inexpensive surgery called vesico-vaginal fistula repair is performed to mend both types of fistula. In conjunction with 3 months bed rest, counselling, literacy skill development, and training for income generation such as sewing and bread baking, is offered to every woman.

The cost of reparative fistula and prolapse surgeries including the 3 month hospital stay is $450.00

Your donations help to provide surgeries that can greatly enhance and restore dignity to a woman's quality of life.

BIRTHRIGHT - A Safe Motherhood, Prenatal Care and Micro-Insurance Program

Mother and infant mortality continues to be one of the most poorly addressed needs in Africa. In Democratic Republic of Congo alone, as many as 125 women and children die each day in birthing related issues. Along with infant and mother mortality, there is increased incidence of obstructed labour trauma resulting in obstetrical fistula.

The Safe Motherhood Program works on two levels: informing and supporting mothers at risk and training and supporting health care workers and care givers who assist the birthing mothers. Identifying and acting on these issues with community input, the Safe Motherhood Program at HEAL Africa has been able to greatly reduce infant, maternal and neonatal mortality and reduce the incidence of obstetric fistula through safe childbirth practices.

Key features of the Safe Motherhood Program include:

• training of staff for safe delivery program
• upgrading of equipment for routine and emergency obstetric care for safe delivery
• valuing and training traditional birth attendants and integrating them into the medical health care system
• micro financing insurance for prenatal women and their birth care attendants
• community commitment for transport, childcare, and garden maintenance while a women is away giving birth
• free baby kits with supplies for newborns who are delivered at a registered clinic

HEALCANADA will be implementing the Safe Motherhood Program on the Isle of Idjwi, DRC, which suffers from an abnormally high rate of congenital malformations and complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

WRITE ON - Capacity Building - Advancement of education for women and children.

Capacity building programs ensure a sustainable future for Africa. Education is absolutely critical for the rebuilding of human capacity in a continent that has been devastated by conflict, HIV/AIDS, poverty and disease.

HEALCANADA is committed to providing tuition and school supplies to children of community-based schools whose families are unable to do so. Scholarships and bursaries will be awarded to girls who need financial assistance to attend secondary school; girls and women pursuing academic and vocational training in areas of education and health. Our efforts are focused in Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.

$50.00 provides school supplies and tuition for a child to attend school for one year.

In May 2011 we responded to a request from HEAL Africa for emergency funding for tuition fees for 65 girls living in Goma and surrounding communities after support for their schooling fell through. The girls, all survivors of sexual violence, were able to complete the school year and write final examinations enabling them to proceed to the next grade levels.

In 2012, HEALCanada branched out to support an early education program at JUAf, near Arusha, Tanzania. JUAf (pronounced joo-off) is a KiSwahili name which means "To Be Understood" and is located in the Kikwe village of Tanzania. JUAf provides a village of resources to vulnerable women and children to empower them to reach a higher socioeconomic level and eradicate poverty through micro financing, education and support. Read more about JUAF.

HEALCANADA has committed to funding the continuing education of Dr. Florine Mutsande for specialist training in Paediatric surgery. Completion of the 4 year program at the National University of Rwanda in Butare will allow her to proceed through to PhD and tenured professor in conjunction with the University of Goma Faculty of Medicine.  Following completion of the specialist training, Dr. Mutsande makes a 6 year commitment to HEAL Africa.  During this time, she will be practicing medicine at HEAL Africa and providing clinical supervision to the next generation of doctors in the best equipped hospital of North Kivu, DRC.

RIGHT at HOME - support to SAGE Transition House and the Multi-Cultural Outreach Program at North Shore Crisis Services Society in North Vancouver B.C., dedicated to promoting a secure and abuse free environment for women and children.

Part of the proceeds from our Mother's Day Special Event were earmarked for the Emergency Fund at NSCSS for items such as food, clothing and transportation, giving women and children in our community the chance to rise above difficult situations.

You can continue to support this project!!

Donation of clothing, accessories and small household items to the Good Stuff Connection Clothing Program and Thrift Shop are most welcome.

Women staying at SAGE House or those who are receiving services with Multicultural Outreach programs receive gift certificates to shop at the store.

The Good Stuff Connection Clothing Program and Thrift Shop is located at 154 West 3rd Street in North Vancouver.