Project Title: TERREWODE Reintegration Program for Obstetric Fistula Survivors

Location: Uganda

Grant Amount: $35,000

Grantee Website: terrewode.com/

Areas of Impact: Gender Equality, Health

Mission of TERREWODE
TERREWODE’s mission is to build community capacity to eliminate obstetric fistula and systematically empower women and girls to meaningfully participate in the development process.

Summary
The goal of the project is to provide the comprehensive care women need to fully heal from the trauma of obstetric fistula and successfully reintegrate into communities. This includes psychosocial counseling (including family and marital counseling), health, nutrition, and safe motherhood education, family planning education and services, and social reintegration support.

Why We Love This
Terrewode addresses the social consequences of fistula: the discrimination, stigma, shaming, social isolation, high rates of divorce, and abandonment. Economically, women with fistula are pushed deeper into poverty as they experience workforce discrimination and increased costs for health and hygiene needs. The reintegration program that follows surgical repair allows new beginnings, a restoration of dignity and purpose, confidence, and leadership. Educating the community on the risk factors for obstetric fistula is gradually creating cultural shifts and improving overall maternal health in Uganda