PRESTON, United Kingdom — Prenatal care has remained a critical issue in sub-Saharan Africa. Even in the modern era, 200,000 sub-Saharan women die in childbirth and pregnancy every year, most due to unsafe clinics and untrained staff. This is why understanding how Dr. Andrew Browning built sustainable prenatal care in Tanzania is important: his story is not in isolation but part of a growing trend of progress across the continent, one that is saving thousands of lives.

Andrew Browning’s Story: How He Came to Tanzania

Born in England in the ’60s and wishing to be a missionary doctor from the age of 6, Browning focused his studies on gynecology and obstetrics. After graduating in Sydney in 1996, Browning visited his aunt in Ethiopia; while there, he met Dr. Catherine Hamlin, a world-leading fistula surgeon and founder of the free Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, who invited him to work for her. Giving up his life in Australia, Browning was inspired by Hamlin’s cause enough to live in Africa full-time, using his expertise to save lives.

While in Ethiopia, Browning learned more than just surgical methods; he learned Hamlin’s methodology of treating all patients with respect and dignity. To expand his work and that of Hamlin, Browning co-founded the Barbara May Foundation, which aims to build fistula clinics across Africa.

The Kivulini Hospital Maternity Africa

Due to a lack of proper medical centers, trained staff and immense financial and geographic obstacles, women in Tanzania suffered some of the highest maternal mortality rates. This is why Browning chose Tanzania for his mission, selecting the country as the site for a medical center. In 2018, the Barbara May Maternity Foundation opened the Kivulini Hospital Maternity Africa in Arusha, Tanzania.

The hospital provides women with a full range of treatment, including surgery, birthing centers and recovery housing where they can recover physically and psychologically from surgeries. The Kivulini Maternity Center also offers robust training facilities for midwives, as well as outreach programs that bring people to the hospital.

As the operation grew beyond just the medical center, it was clear that the work would extend beyond just Tanzania. For this reason, the Barbara May Foundation began partnering with Maternity Africa to expand its impact. Built to reflect its core mission, which is now to replicate the Kiwalani model across Africa.

Impacts of Maternity Africa

Just like Hamlin, Browning ensured that the core tenets of Maternity Africa remain dignity and care for everyone. Since Browning founded it, Maternity Africa has overseen 4,000 safe births and performed 230 free fistula surgeries. Additionally, hundreds of students train at the foundation, ensuring that there will never be a shortage of expertise or workforce.

To reach more areas of Tanzania, outreach programs and training initiatives have been established to support medical professionals in remote communities. Through the work of Maternity Africa, the Barbara May Foundation and other organizations such as the Te-Kworo Foundation, this work in Tanzania has begun to spread. The foundation is expanding its reach to South Sudan and northern Uganda to support the neediest regions and provide long-term health stability.

The momentous work of Browning cannot be overstated. He has not only saved thousands of lives but has built the foundations to save countless more in the future. The Tanzanian government has officially licensed the foundation to operate and receive funding, a testament to its vital role. For his international work on maternal health, he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia.

A Brighter Future?

It would be remiss to say that the maternal crisis in Africa has been solved. Regardless, the story of how Browning built sustainable prenatal care in Tanzania is an inspiring one, demonstrating how hard work and dedication can lead to genuine betterment. Across Africa, organizations like Maternity Africa are forming, including Partners In Health and the African Midwives Research Network. With the support of international communities, there may be a future path toward genuine support for everyone across Africa.

– Eli Thomson

Eli is based in Preston, UK and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr