It´s been almost a whole year since our last blog update. We may have been silent, but we haven't been still. This blog writer (Mary Chimbili) apologises. I went off to have a baby and found the road back to be harder than expected :) I have (mostly) finished with the backlog of updates. I've had such an amazing team working in the field that it's taken a while to write about all the wonderful work they've been doing. In 2026 we have: Trained traditional midwives in Bie (li

Votoka was honoured to partner with CICA (Board of Christian Churches of Angola) to present the 2nd National Conference on the Role of the Church in the Prevention of Obstetric Fistula. The event was held in Luanda at the Tocoist Church on the 4th of March with a total of 203 participants. This highly successful 2nd national conference included the presence of the Minister of Health, Dr Silvia Lutacuta, as well as the Secretary of State for Hospitals Dr Leonardo Europeu, and

From half a world away, two Australian surgeons travelled to Angola in February 2026, to bring hope to women requiring fistula repair surgeries. Dr Judith Goh and Dr Hannah Krause were warmly welcomed to Luanda and then to Lubango by the Votoka team and our partners at the CEML missionary hospital. They were joined by visiting specialist Dr Rebecca Zacharia from Switzerland, who was honoured to have a chance to receive further training in obstetric fistula repair surgery from

In May/June 2026, Votoka supported a major obstetric fistula repair campaign in the highland province of Bie. This annual campaign regularly sees over 150 women receive repair operations - some for the first time, and some for repeat operations performed by Irish specialist Dr Michael Breen. This year we supported over 200 women who came to participate in the campaign, with 181 of these women receiving repair operations. The post-operative care was mostly performed by the sta

Votoka strongly believes that we must PREVENT obstetric fistula as well as TREAT the women who suffer from it. We are so proud that in 2025 we began to train community midwives/traditional birth attendants (TBAs), first in Huambo province and then in Bie province. In early 2026 we continued the Community Midwife/Traditional Birth Attendant training in Bie province, where 403 TBAs received a one-day training on obstetric fistula prevention and the promotion of healthy pregnanc

All year long our team works tirelessly to raise awareness about obstetric fistula. Some of our greatest work is done in villages, marketplaces, churches, on buses, at police stops, and in health posts and the waiting areas of hospitals. We talk, and talk, and talk about obstetric fistula! Votoka team member raising awareness about obstetric fistula at the marketplace We want everyone to know what it is, how it happens, that the women who suffer from this problem can be helpe

In September our team of trainers, led by Petra Jobse and Silva Sambaca, undertook the training of 127 government nurses in the province of Icolo e Bengo. We conducted one-day trainings in four different municipalities, namely Cabiri, Calumbo, Catete and Sequele. A total of 83 of the professionals who were trained received A3 sized kits filled with laminated colour images. These kits are designed to support them to conduct sensibilization lectures at their health posts and in

Votoka believes that all women who suffer from obstetric fistula need emotional healing as well as physical healing. Obstetric fistula. There can be so much loss involved in these two words. The loss of a child. A stillborn birth from a harrowing situation. The loss of a husband. Abandoned and despised because of incontinence. The loss of family and friends. Not wanted. Not valued. Ridiculed. The loss of church and community. Not welcome. The loss of fertility. The loss of in

Part of our team! From L-R: Emilia, Silva, Avozinha, Elisa, Veronica and Petra Our team have spent the last two months dedicated to our mission of raising awareness about Obstetric Fistula, training healthcare professionals to prevent obstetric fistula, helping women to receive repair operations, and counselling them to help heal their emotional trauma. Each step is essential. Each step is important. Each step leads toward greater empowerment for women. We are constantly grat

For the last few months the Votoka team have been busy with 1. Post-operative nursing training; 2. Awareness raising activities; 3....

This interview took place at the end of the May 2025 operations campaign in Bie province. Our Campaign Coordinator, Veronica Jolomba,...

This interview took place at the beginning of the May 2025 operations campaign in Bie province. Our Trauma and Reintegration Coordinator,...

Can you see these two beautiful ladies? They are both survivors of Obstetric Fistula. They both travelled to Bie in May this year in the...

Our ParkRun event celebrated its nine year anniversary last weekend (28th of June, 2025). Happy Birthday!!! A massive total of 102...

Yesterday, the 23rd of May, was the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. Improving maternal health and ending obstetric fistula...

Opening of the First National Conference on Obstetric Fistula Prayer(Secretary of State Dr Inocêncio, Seretary General of CICA Rev....

Votoka has ended 2024 on a high, filled with love and hope for the future, and a renewed dedication to the prevention of obstetric...

The team from the Community Development program have spent the last 2 months organising: eight ParkRun events at Kulele one donation of...

Nganja Park - The inaugural "Fyote Pathways" event, organised by 10Padronizada Community Library in Luanda, was celebrated in Bailundo...

Despite September normally heralding the beginning of the wet season in Bailundo, it only rained twice during this month. This did mean...