outreach in Africa?

[jgrumet]

I was curious if anyone knew of an outreach program/foundation to try to raise awareness and treatment of PE in Africa?

We are adopting from Ethiopia and we were told that if we were to get a true orphan (most are) the most common cause of the mother dying is due to untreated PE. I pretty much had a breakdown when I heard this. The only reason I am alive is because I was born here and not there. The fact that our second child will come from a mother also affected by this is beautiful and terribly sad at the same time.

Anyway, if there isn't some kind of aid for this I would like to start it, but I'm a little confused on how to start. The last time I was in Africa was over two years ago in Ghana and the hospitals there were horrific for delivering mothers in a NORMAL pregnancy (the use unsterilized gauze scissors to do the episiotomy)

Any area of the world that is lacking in medical care I'm sure has this problem, but this continent is very near to my heart- so I'd like to start there first!

Any help would be great!

[kara]

Jamie, I'll forward your post on the Eleni, our Executive Director. The PF is interested in outreach to other countries, and third world countries are high on that list. Lives could be saved by Mag, which is very inexpensive. However the lack of IV's to deliver the medication, and the inability to test levels stands in the way of progress (among many other problems, I'm sure).

[jgrumet]

Thanks Kara!

[eleni]

I sent you an email, Jamie.

[jgrumet]

got it!

[veronica44]

Wow. That is really amazing that the child you will be adopting will most likely be a PE orphan. It's so wonderful that you can give one of these children the gift of a life with you.