Eighth Graduating S.M.A. Class

ASQUAL KIROS

Asqual was born in Tigray region in a village called Adishre and is now 22 years old. She was married in 2005 at the age of 16 and had her first pregnancy in 2008 which end up with stillbirth. Do to two days in prolonged labor she was forced to be transferred to the Samre Health Center (over 5 hours away) but it was too late and she developed fistula. She was referred to the Mekelle Fistula Hospital and in three months time she was cured.

Asqual was divorced from her husband because of her case of fistula. In general, she has bad feelings about her husband and her community as they mistreated her and did not take care of her. Now she has a new hope and motivation to become an agent of change and be a leader in eradicating fistula in her community.

Asqual was under her family management and had no source of income.

Asqual’s Dreams:

She wants to start a small business like a cafe

She wants to give training to women to prevent fistula, to go to the hospital and health center for delivery and get antenatal care.

LETESLASSIE GRMAY

Leteslassie was born in Tigray Region in a village called Gudero. She is now 30 years old. She was married in 2000 at the age of 18 and had her first pregnancy in 2001 and delivered her first child at home in the same year but with prolonged and obstructed labor which left her with fistula. Her husband immediately divorced her after the fistula had occurred. After a decade living alone in pain, she was taken to Mekelle Fistula Hospital in 2011 and was cured. In total, Letesilassie had one pregnancy which end up with stillbirth. She was nominated as SMA to get the training to become an agent of change in her community and make a difference. Leteslassie has a small plot of land.

Leteslassie’s Dreams:

She wants to start a small business like weaving

She wants be able to buy and sell goods at the marketplace

She wants to give a birth to two children.

HLIFTY HAGOS

Hlifty was born in Tigray region Samre wereda in a village called Atslefta and she is now 33 years old. She was married in 1985 at the age of 15 and had her first pregnancy in 1986. She deliver at home in 1987 which ended up with a stillbirth. Then her second child was delivered at home in 1991 and because of prolonged labor she developed fistula. In total she had four pregnancies with two stillbirths and two child alive. She received treatment at the Mekelle Fistula hospital but was not fully cured, so she had to be transferred to Addis Ababa hospital. She get immediate treatment after fistula occurred and cured. Hlifty was divorced with her husband after the fistula occurrence and remarried again with another from whom she get two children.

Hilifty’s Dreams:

Hilifty also wants to make a small business by poultry and dairy farm

She wants to see her children performing best in their education and join University.

As an ambassador, Hilifty wants to teach all the community to go to the hospital and health centers for delivery and prenatal care.

ABRIHA MESFIN

Abriha was born in Tigray Region Samre wereda in a village called Mariam moko and she is now 30 years old. She was married in 1998 at the age of 15, she had her first pregnancy in 2002 G.C and her first child was born alive and fortunately safe though at home. Then in 2007 she had a stillbirth delivery of twin babies with prolonged labor at home and as a result developed fistula. She was then taken to Mekelle Fistula Hospital for treatment in 2008 and cured. Her husband was taking care of her till she is cured but now divorced her as he wanted more children and she did not. Now she is becoming among the dependable SMAs to do more for her community in support of creating fistula free environment.

Abriha’s Dreams:

Abriha wants to make small business by poultry, and to produce and sell

As an ambassador Abriha wants teach all the community to got to hospital and health center for delivery and get antenatal care

ABREHET GEBREGERGIS

Abrehet was born in Tigray Region Samre wereda in a village called Gezarie. She in now 35 years old. She was married in 1996 at the age of 20 years and had her 1^st pregnancy in 1996. She delivered her 1^st child in 1997 and made institutional deliveries for four of her children and had no problem. At her last pregnancy, she delivered a stillbirth at home and ended up with fistula due to prolonged labor in 2006. Abrehet was divorced with her husband before fistula developed because of their own other reasons.

Abrehet had painful and stressful days and nights after the fistula occurred and had a wish to die. Then she went to Mekelle Fistula Hospital and was fully cured.

She is excited to have the opportunity to be an SMA and has a passion and strong desire to return to her village and educate other women about ways to improve their health especially during pregnancy and delivery.

Abrehet’s Dreams:

She wants to educate her children

She wants to start a small business by sewing & poultry keeping

MILETE TESFAGABR

Milete was born in Tigray Region in a village called Bekel and she is now 18 years old. She was married in 2008 at the age of 15 and had her 1^St pregnancy in 2009.

In her attempt to deliver at home in 2010, she was a victim of prolonged labor and as a result fistula. After her fistula occurred she received treatment at the Axum hospital but was not fully cured and was transferred to the Mekelle Hospital in 2011. Before she came to the Mekelle Fistula Hospital she dealt with the shame of incontinence. Unlike many other cases, her husband was beside her supporting her. Her neighbors also was giving her psychological support and had good social relationship with her community.

Milete have no income by herself but her husband gets 600 birr salary ($30USD)in a month from gardening of other land.

Milete’s Dreams:

She wants to go to school

Milete also wants to make small business through poultry

TSEGA KIDANU

Tsega was born in Tigray region Samre wereda in a village called Adidaero and she is now 19 years old. She was married in 2009 at the age of 17 and had her first pregnancy in 2010 and was taken to the Mekelle Hospital because she had urine incontinence one month before delivery. Her child survived but she developed fistula immediately after birth and she was treated at the Mekelle Fistula hospital in 2011. Her husband and her family including the community take good care of her and does all the necessary support. Tsega is now happy and she is cured and nominated as one of Safe Motherhood Ambassador and is urging herself to educate her community.

Tsega’s Dreams:

Tsega also wants to make small business by poultry, catering and others like buying and selling goods.

As an ambassador Tsega wants to teach all the community to got to hospital and health centers for delivering and get prenatal care to avoid fistula.

SINDU AFERA

SIndu was born in Tigray region in a village called my Keyah. She is 35 years old and was married in 2001 at the age 25 and had her first pregnancy in the same year. Since she did not make any antenatal care visits and delivered at home, she developed fistula in her first pregnancy in 2001. Then she was cured in the same year at the Mekelle Fistula Hospital. She was not divorced and was able to deliver another four children after her fistula was totally cured.

Sindu was nominated as one of SMAs by her community and she is very happy to learn and serve others.

Sindu’s Dreams:

She wants to teach her children at higher learning institutions

She wants to start a small business by catering

She wants to give training for women to get the hospital and health center for delivery and get antenatal care.

TSADAKAN KINDEYA (Photo N/A)

Tsadkan was born in Tigray region in a village called Gonga and she is now 51 years old. She was married in 1960 at the age 12 and had her first pregnancy in 1967 She never visited a health center and developed fistula in her first pregnancy. She had a total of four pregnancies and three of them were born alive and the other with stillbirth. Until 2011 Tsadkan didn’t get any treatment and after very long years of pain she was cured at Mekelle Fistula Hospital. Her husband divorced her immediately after the occurrence of fistula. At a result of the divorce and injury, she faced many social and psychological stresses like stigma, sociological depression and because of the fistula was not in a position to do daily routines like other community members.

Tsadkan is very excited about HHOJ and her opportunity of being SMA to serve her community and share the vision of HHOJ by acting in her community. She is determined to bring change to her community and become among the best performers of SMAs trained by HHOJ.

Tsadkan’s Dreams:

She wants to give training for her village about fistula by using her testimony.

She wants to make a small business like selling different goods.

BACK

RECEIVE OUR E-NEWSLETTER

CONTACT US AT