Our Campaign
Operation New Life is an Irish Charity, founded by Siobhan D'Arcy-Bewick, to provide medical care for women tragically damaged during childbirth in Africa. We are focussed on providing an appropriate fistula service to the fistula women in Niger. We are working to empower those women by ensuring their dignity is restored and they have a second chance at life. Over the past few years, we have seen both women and girls recovering successfully from fistula surgery and returning with a fresh start to their villages, some girls even returning to school, which was unheard of before.
Background
In November 2006, Siobhan D’Arcy-Bewick travelled with seven doctors from New York and two from Chicago who spent two weeks working voluntarily operating on these women. Siobhan met the Hospital Director, the Minister for Health, the wife of the then President, and the Prime Minister, all of whom support the project.
Siobhan returned to Africa in February 2007, with boxes of medical supplies and other much needed items. The medical team who came on this trip operated on over 60 young girls who travelled, some for days, to receive treatment.
Operation New Life is working with the Government of Niger to create this fistula programme. The first phase of the project is complete which has seen the building of the first unit of the hospital.
There is still a long way to go. The next phase of the project is to build a post-operative care unit and waiting houses. A fistula programme will also be implemented whereby experienced surgeons will train local health agents in fistula prevention and treatment.
The foundations have been laid and Operation New Life’s vision of eradicating obstetric fistula in Niger is one step closer. We need your support to accomplish our goals.
