Burkina Faso
WFF believes solving global problems such as devastating childbirth injuries requires a commitment to collaborate with, support and develop local leaders like Dr. Itengré Ouédraogo.
History
WFF originally recruited Dr. Itengré for the Chief Medical Officer position at Danja Fistula Center in Niger. From 2012 – 2013, WFF Clinical Consultant, Dr. Steve Arrowsmith, provided Dr. Itengré specialized International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) fistula training. Dr. Itengré became the only FIGO trained fistula surgeon in Niger and remained at Danja Fistula Center until 2017.
Driven by a desire to serve the women of his home country, Burkina Faso, Dr. Itengre left Niger and established his own NGO, Association Renaissance (ARENA). From 2017 – 2018, Dr. Itengre through ARENA worked with multiple local partners to provide free fistula surgeries through organized camps. ARENA partnered with Foundation Rama to provide survivors social reintegration & empowerment programming following treatment.
New ARENA Clinic in Burkina Faso
Construction of Dr. Itengre’s new ARENA clinic completed in 2022 with surgical services launching in June. Like WFF, ARENA implements a holistic model to address fistula and is the first dedicated fistula center in Burkina Faso. Construction of the clinic was funded by SowHope, while WFF continues to provide general operating funds. The center provides surgical treatment, psychological - social reintegration, advocacy training, prevention education and medical professional training all under one roof.
Our vision with the clinic would be to be able to get other doctors trained so that they can take care of simple cases in other public health centers and then refer to us the very complex cases at ARENA health centers.
Dr. Itengre
Building Holistic Care
Beginning in 2019, ARENA and WFF provided prevention education, free fistula surgeries and social reintegration and empowerment training through a continuous, year-round treatment model in Burkina Faso. It’s not just about doing fistula surgery. Lives are being changed and we have seen the impact of our activities. Women who have lost everything return months later living a completely different life and become a functioning part of their communities.
Habibou’s Story
Habibou developed a fistula while laboring in Bobo-Dioulasso (Bobo), Burkina Faso. She lost her baby. For five long months, she suffered the embarrassment of constant leaking urine while she searched for a cure for her fistula. She was referred to ARENA in Ouagadougou.
He [Dr. Itengre] let me know he was going to take care of me
To Date you have helped ARENA accomplish so much!
343
Free surgeries to women suffering childbirth injuries
392
Fistula survivors received empowerment and social reintegration training
Coming Soon!
Small businesses run by fistula survivors and their solidarity groups
84,850
Community members reached for Safe Motherhood & Free Treatment
496
Doctors, Nurses, Midwives and medical professionals trained
WFF believes solving global problems such as devastating childbirth injuries requires a commitment to collaborate with, support and develop local leaders like Dr. Itengré Ouédraogo.
Our aspiration and goal is to see Arena as a champion and deliver full maternal health care services going beyond the fistula patient.
Good health enables people living in poverty to contribute more strongly to their own success; work, education, and household income all improve.
Dr. Itengre