On Sunday 26 May, more than 600 people participated in Maternity Africa’s annual ‘fistula marathon’ – a series of fun run of 21km, 10km and 5km. The events started and finished at Maternity Africa’s Kivulini Maternity Centre outside Arusha in Northern Tanzania.
The event’s main objectives were to raise awareness of obstetric fistula as a life-changing condition that affects women through obstructive labour, that it is treatable by what can be a simple operation at Kivulini Maternity Centre, and that, importantly, it is preventable if women deliver their babies at a reputable health facility.
One runner states:
I understand there are a lot of marathons nowadays but not all a for a worthy cause,
My appreciation š«” for the incredible work and effort that your facility is putting into combating fistula
Your dedication and contributions are truly immense and invaluable to our community.
It was an honour for me to participate in the recent Fistula Marathon, which not only showcased our collective support for worthy causes but also highlighted the importance of raising awareness and taking action against health challenges.
Thank you once again for your relentless commitment to making a positive impact. I look forward to continuing our journey of collaboration and progress.
We are also grateful to local Olympian athlete Alphonce Felix Simbu, a Tanzanian log distance runner who specialises in marathons, and generously was our Marathon Ambassador. So many other people, including our wonderful staff, worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the event, and we are grateful.