2 posts tagged “africa”

Next week on the PBS show NOVA, they will show the documentary A Walk to Beautiful.  It airs here in NC on Tuesday night at 8pm.  I almost went to a private screening of the movie here in Charlotte back in the fall, but Casey had to work at the last minute and we didn't really know any babysitters in the area yet, so I am excited that I will be able to see it on TV.  There are rumors that it might be considered for an Academy Award.

A Walk to Beautiful highlights a women's hospital in Ethiopia that specializes in repairing fistulas, an injury incurred during a prolonged (several days) and difficult labor.  Here in the US, women don't suffer from fistulas because of access to medical care during the childbirth, but in the developing world, unfortunately, they are common.  Fistulas don't heal, they can only be fixed with surgery.  Women with fistulas are shamed and treated as outcasts in their society.  The hospital is pretty amazing in how it transforms these women's lives.

I am aware of this hospital and the film through a group I'm part of here in Charlotte called Women of Vision.  Women of Vision is connected with World Vision (through which I sponsor an adorable little girl from Rwanda named Valerie ;-).  The Charlotte chapter of Women of Vision has been supporting this hospital since 2002 and was instrumental in getting the director of the hospital on the Oprah show many years ago, thus bringing her ministry to national attention.

So, if you're up for what will probably be an emotional evening, tune in on Tuesday night.