Hello friends, followers and supporters,

We are back, after a hiatus from blog posts and social media. I took over as Kupona’s Executive Director in early September, and experienced a whole new level of “hitting the ground running.” Kupona’s founding Executive Director, Katie Flanagan, spent time with me transitioning until the day before she gave birth to a baby girl in late September. Our Third Annual Golf Outing was October 3rd, and we had inspiring visits from Erwin Telemans, CCBRT’s CEO and Dr. Brenda D’mello, Technical Advisor to CCBRT’s Maternal and Newborn Program in the first, second and fourth weeks of October.

As we re-launch the blog, I will be making a series of posts to introduce myself, share more detail around what we’ve been up to, address a series of questions that I have asked or been asked, and (re)introduce Kupona and CCBRT’s shared vision. To keep things interesting, I’ll make it a point to share photos as well – two recent construction photos are below, and you can view all of the most recent photos on Facebook. I have learned a lot in my first two+ months as Executive Director, and I am extremely excited about the work happening on the ground in Tanzania and the potential for us to directly support that work. We are changing lives.

Abbey

Yesterday, our implementing partner, CCBRT, was honored to welcome President and Mrs. George W. Bush during a private visit to its facilities. The visit came following President and Mrs Bush’s key note speeches at the Bush Center’s Africa First Ladies Summit: “Investing in women, Strengthening Africa.” In line with the theme of the summit, CCBRT took this opportunity to outline its efforts to rebuild the lives of women with obstetric fistula, empower them both socially and economically through training at the Mabinti Center, and to improve the level of healthcare available to expectant mothers and their newborns.
During their visit to CCBRT’s obstetric fistula department, President and Mrs. Bush heard the story of Halima, who, at just 25 years old, lived with fistula for six months before finally receiving treatment at CCBRT. President and Mrs. Bush listened as Halima told them how she had been referred to hospital for treatment months earlier, but despite advice from doctors, her family took her to a traditional healer. Convinced she was bewitched, Halima lived with incontinence for another 2 months before she was identified by CCBRT’s community outreach team. Halima was finally referred to CCBRT for treatment free of charge, and was given support with the transport costs via Vodafone M-PESA. Clearly moved by her story, President Bush embraced Halima at the end of her testimony and thanked the 40 women that sang to greet the visitors.

On their departure, both President and Mrs. Bush praised CCBRT for our “devoted care” as we strive to help the poorest of the poor in Tanzania and to create a Tanzania where people have access to quality disability services and safe maternal and newborn healthcare.

Kupona is thrilled to announce that our implementing partner in Dar es Salaam, CCBRT, and its Mabinti Center have been chosen as two highlighted programs during the African First Ladies Summit ‘Investing in Women, Strengthening Africa’ on the 2nd July 2013!

The Summit, coordinated by The Bush Center, will bring together African First Ladies, government officials, private organizations, NGOs and academics to discuss best practices that can reap sustainable, replicable results, benefit women and strengthen society.

CCBRT not only invests in women in the present, but seeks to have a long term impact upon Tanzania by focusing its efforts on future generations. Summit attendees will learn about the huge success of our holistic obstetric fistula program as well as gaining an insight into our comprehensive maternal and newborn healthcare program and the work we do for children with disabilities.

CCBRT and Kupona are excited to welcome the delegation to Tanzania, and look forward to participating in this vital international discussion upon the importance of women as the key to unlocking development.

Beatrice to other patients with fistula: ‘ Once I was just like you and now thanks to my husband and CCBRT I have a new life ’

When a patient leaves CCBRT, our hospital in Tanzania, after being treated for fistula, there is often great relief and hope.  After her surgical fistula repair and recovery at the hospital, Beatrice also completed a one-year training course in craft and business skills at our Mabinti Center. In May, Beatrice was able to safely gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Pelis. Without the care that she received at CCBRT, this would have been unthinkable.  Now, Beatrice counsels other patients with fistula and encourages them to seek treatment.

Kupona Foundation and our implementing partner CCBRT have been working together since 2009 to transform and improve maternal health care in Tanzania – to prevent fistula and ensure that joy and safety during pregnancy and childbirth is possible for ALL Tanzanian women.  Our capacity building initiatives have helped to improve care at 16 existing health facilities in the Dar es Salaam region and highlighted CCBRT as a leader in the area of maternal health.  But in 2012, our vision began to take concrete shape with the construction of the new CCBRT Maternity and Newborn Hospital.  All funds for the construction and equipping of the new hospital have been committed and progress has been incredible since breaking ground in December 2011.  In fact, the kitchen and canteen facilities will be ready for use in the first part of this year, and three of the building blocks have been constructed up to roof level. Twice in 2012, His Excellency President Kikwete of Tanzania visited the progressing site of the new hospital, and we continue to be motivated by this high-level support.

Here in the United States, Kupona’s mission to expand private support for CCBRT also reached new heights, with our final tally in 2012 reaching over $219,000 – more than two times our total in 2011!  And every dollar will be used on the ground in Tanzania to save the lives of mothers and babies.

We know that, even as our physical facility takes shape, the pressure mounts: we must recruit qualified staff, improve of the regional referral system to prevent overcrowding at the new hospital, and secure funding for recurring operational expenses.  In 2012, we worked closely with some fantastic partners to develop a human resources strategy, an assessment of the current referral system, and an evaluation of family planning services in the region. This year will be one of translating valuable information into action and leveraging the gifts of all of our supporters for maximum impact in the lives of Tanzanian mothers and babies.

For Beatrice and thousands of women like her, CCBRT is the final step in a painful journey, and the first step in a joyful one.  In 2012, CCBRT treated more than 500 women like Beatrice, repairing their fistulas and giving them true second chances to live their dreams. But without your support, there would be no stories like hers.  This year, your gifts trained doctors, nurses, and midwives. They renovated and equipped operating rooms and built a new, expanded ward for patients with fistula.  And they are helping to build our new maternity hospital, so that we can prevent the occurrence of fistula and ensure that the joy Beatrice felt when delivering Pelis  is a joy that ALL Tanzanian women have the opportunity to experience.

We cannot thank you enough for helping us to come this far, and cannot wait to share with you all that 2013 will bring!

Photo by Ken Goodman Photography

On Thursday, September 27, Kupona hosted its Second Annual Golf Tournament at North Hempstead Country Club in Port Washington, NY.  This year, South African pro-golfer Danie Steyn joined us for a “Pay the Pro” and to give tips to participants along the course.  A great time was had by all, and with event sponsorships and other donations, we raised $30,750 for the CCBRT Maternity and Newborn Hospital!

This year’s tournament sponsors were:

Allen & Overy LLP

Mayer Brown LLP

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

SNR Denton

Trident Investment Management

Ready to compete for the grand prize.

A huge thank you to everyone who made this event a success!  We are especially grateful to our corporate sponsors for their support, to North Hempstead Country Club for their hospitality, Danie Steyn for his participation, and Ken Goodman Photography for capturing the day on film.  For a more complete set of photos from the event, check out our Facebook page.