Stephanie Linus Daily

Tag: Fistula

  • End gender inequality! End health inequities! End Fistula now!

    In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, today, we are marking the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.

    There’s a lot of uncertainty and increasing demand on our healthcare systems at this time. But we must remember that women and girls have to be protected from Obstetric Fistula, a vivid sign of gender and health inequality.

    This year’s theme has a clear message “End gender inequality! End health inequities! End Fistula now!” It is grave injustice that our most vulnerable women and girls suffer from this tragic childbirth injury. My message to all today is this: obstetric fistula is preventable and it must end! All mothers, regardless of social background, should have timely access to quality maternal health care services. Obstetric fistula is preventable, and it can largely be avoided by delaying the age of first pregnancy, the cessation of harmful traditional practices, and timely access to obstetric care.

    It is our collective responsibility to protect the vulnerable amongst us. Let’s work together to End Fistula, now more than ever!

  • No woman should die while trying to give birth to life!

    No woman should suffer the indignity of an obstetric fistula… No woman should die while trying to give birth to life!

    This has been my message and my mission since the time I discovered what fistula was and will continue to be until we eradicate fistula in Africa. It is definitely possible! Fistula was eradicated in North America, the UK, and western Europe in the early 1900s. This tells us that the capacity to eradicate the prolonged, obstructed labour that causes obstetric fistula has been in our hands for several generations.

    Tomorrow, May 23rd is the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. This is another time to remind us all of our responsibilities in creating awareness about this tragic childbirth injury.

    To talk more about my work, I had an interview with Plus TV which will be aired tomorrow. I’m also very happy that a highly skilled surgeon and long term partner of the Extended Hands Foundation, Dr Sa’ad Idris was interviewed for this feature.

    Watch the interview tomorrow by 1:30pm on DSTV channel 408.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CAfHm-NhI_4/

    Have you watched DRY – the first world-class feature movie to bring Fistula to the big screen? CLICK HERE to get your copy!

  • Photos From The Fistula Awareness Campaign In Maiduguri

    Actress and human rights advocate Stephanie Linus has once again demonstrated an unrelenting fight against fistula and child marriage with her recent fistula awareness campaign in Borno State. Using her award-winning movie – DRY as a tool to connect with her audience, the actress pushed forward a message of fistula prevention and protection of the basic rights of a girl child.

    The movie was screened at a secondary school in the state to young female and male students as well as their educators. Asides from being a tool of information and awareness, the movie elicited an emotional response from most of the young girls who were able to connect with the story of Halima, the young fistula patient in the movie. Following the screening, many of them resolved shared their personal experiences and resolved that they wanted to be like Dr Zara, the heroine in the movie who fought hard for the rights of the girl child.

    DRY, a Next Page Productions movie has been recognized across the world as a tool to speak against outdated cultural norms, prejudices and push the world to do more to empower women and girls with the freedom, education and equal rights they deserve. The movie has been translated into Hausa in order to reach many Northern Nigerian communities.

    This screening was supported by the UNFPA, an organization where Ms. Linus serves as a Regional Ambassador for Maternal Health in West and Central Africa.

    To watch DRY, simply CLICK HERE

  • International Day to End Obstetric Fistula: DRY Screening In Ghana

    In commemoration of the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, I had the pleasure of visiting Ghana for the screening of DRY in my capacity as the UNFPA Regional Ambassador for Maternal Health in West and Central Africa.

    As many of you know, I created this movie to shed light on Fistula and draw the world’s attention to urgent measures needed to protect girls and women from falling victim to this condition. I’m very glad and humbled that four years after its release, the movie is still doing justice to this calling.

    We had a fantastic and informative evening at the screening. As usual, DRY delivered in creating awareness about obstetric Fistula and maternal health. 

    I also had the pleasure of meeting the beautiful former first lady of Ghana – Mrs Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, who enjoyed the movie and hope it gets screened in the whole of Africa every week for one year!

    SL Fabz, let me know if you want DRY in your Language. 

    And also, a big thanks to my glam team for putting this look together. 

    Makeup @bimpeonakoya
    Photography @mofebamuyiwa
    Hair by @ferdinandshair
    Dress @enthystfashionklinik

    Here are some photos: