Singer and former soap star Natalie Imbruglia is an ambassador for Virgin Unite and a spokeswoman for the United Nations' campaign to end Fistula. This week she is working in Nigeria - and is sending Sky News a diary during her travels.

Photo: Chris de Bode / Panos / UNFPA

Wednesday

This morning we were up early and drove back from Katsina to Kano, where we met the Deputy Secretary for the Ministry for Women’s Affairs.  He supported our efforts and thanked us for visiting Kano.

Then we visited the newly refurbished Kwalli Rehabilitation facility.

This centre receives fistula patients from a nearby hospital for a three-week recovery period after their surgery. Last time I visited, I donated a van that now transports patients to and from the hospital.

As we entered the centre, the fistula patients broke out into song and one of the matrons translated for me.

The song expressed their happiness about the improvements we’ve made to the centre, such as new mattresses and sheets. The thing that really made me giggle was when they sang “We are so happy...the van is still working!”

As we walked around the centre, we observed freshly painted walls, new sewing machines, a working generator – all bought with funds from the events I hosted in London with Virgin Unite.

The presence of high profile Nigerian media is proof that there’s a lot more focus on the plight of fistula women locally.

After lunch we went to Nassarawa where were we received by leaders of the community and lots of guests.

It made me so happy to see all the women wearing the new head-dresses which signify they are recovered fistula patients who had gone through the outreach programme to educate women in their communities about the importance of getting to a hospital before they go into labour.

We finished the day visiting a number of local families.

In one house, there were two relatives who have been living with fistula for 20 and 27 years respectively. Through the outreach programme, they finally had the courage to go to Babbar Ruga Fistula Hospital and arrange surgery.

You can only imagine the emotion in the room when we heard these women’s sad stories. But on a positive note, although both of their first husbands left them, they’ve now remarried men who love them just the way they are.

The overwhelming feeling for all of us has been the warmth, hope and love we found around these families and their communities.

They don’t have many possessions, but they are rich in ways we could only imagine. Very inspiring.

If this interested you, please give us your support at www.EndFistula.org

Tuesday

This morning we were received by the Governor of Katsina, his wife, and a number of government officials.

He seems like a very genuine man and is determined to support efforts to end fistula and improve maternal care.

We then toured the new Dr. Kees Rehabilitation Centre (Dr. Kees is a revered Dutch fistula surgeon) which hadn’t been built on my last visit.

This was exciting for me - some of the fundraising events that I hosted with Virgin Unite in support of UNFPA helped to fund the construction.

There, after being treated, women learn different skills, including basic education, knitting, embroidery and cooking.

This will help them become economically independent when they return to their communities.

The day ended in Kankara where we were received by the Governor’s wife and the religious leader of Kankara.

Recovered patients sang a song about their plight and presented me with a gift, for which I thanked them very much. We listened to various people talking about how the outreach programme was working in the communities.

I saw proof of that when I interviewed the most wonderful woman who had developed fistula following her eleventh pregnancy.

After successful surgery and a stay at the rehabilitation centre, she has been involved in the outreach programme where she now teaches others that fistula is preventable and treatable.

Unlike many of the women I had interviewed, she had an incredibly supportive husband and it was very heart-warming to spend time with her and her family. It seems like the campaign is working!

Natalie Imbruglia
Ambassador for Virgin Unite and Spokesperson for the UNFPA Campaign to End Fistula.

:: Read more on the UNFPA campaign to end fistula here

Comments

[Paul - Pretoria 4 Apr 2008 08:32:00]

Why does the SABC not give Jeremy Thompson an office to operate from, rather than making him stand on the roof of the TV Broadcasting building in Aukland Park?

Or is he standing there by choice? He could just as well be on a rooftop in London. It looks a little silly!

[Karen 12 Jan 2008 11:03:25]

I think Nat's doing a great job and its important for people or the world to know about Fistula.

OK so the UK is having some problems but I don't see what this has to do with humanitarian efforts by good people and every country has problems.

The state of Nat's marriage has nothing to do with this campaign!

[Paul, London 8 Jan 2008 12:19:24]

I read that Natalie has split with her husband, Natalie - I'll take you out, please get in touch with sky !

[Geraldine, London 2 Jan 2008 11:42:05]

Sacha - I used to work on this project and travelled with Natalie on her first trip to Nigeria to see first-hand the tough conditions in which these women live. In the UK, we have access to clean water, electricity and free health care which would be considered a luxury in these remote areas of Nigeria. In fact, fistula hasn't even existed here for over a hundred years. Natalie's worked hard to bring awareness to the fact that many women don't have the benefits we enjoy and should be commended.

[Jason, Colchester 25 Dec 2007 14:21:15]

Keep up the good work Nat, sending you plenty of festive cheer, well done on everything you've acheived this year, may 2008 be just as bonza for you and your family, looking forward to your new album, Chow.

[Evelyn Lagos 17 Dec 2007 13:58:08]

Nat! womankind say thank youand keep up the good work, May God give you the strenght and long life to do the good work.
Sascha! Sascha! Sascha! because of people like you, good people that wants to help others are so scared so GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!
God bless you NAT!!!!!

[Portia UK 15 Dec 2007 17:23:53]

is that it or will Natalie be typing and sending some more??

[Merogus, Kaduna Nigeria. 13 Dec 2007 10:37:40]

Its wonderful to see stars come over and help the sick and needy. being a nigerian from the north where natalie is visiting all i can say is keep up the good work.

[alicia 13 Dec 2007 07:06:24]

what has been your contribution to help the situation in your Country lately Sascha?

or any other Country

[Portia 12 Dec 2007 23:52:49]

I love this quote: "They don’t have many possessions, but they are rich in ways we could only imagine. Very inspiring."

so true, Africa is a beautiful country, full of beautiful people. We could learn so much from their community-based, vibrant, caring way of life.

[Nick, Stirling 12 Dec 2007 16:21:15]

Congrats on helping to raise the profile of this Nat - it's so good that you're able to do this. More power to you.

[Fil - Lisbon 12 Dec 2007 14:09:23]

Sascha, you yourself sound like those two old muppet gents sitting in the balcony seats moaning ...

Why should helping desperately poor people in Africa and getting your act together in Britain be mutually exclusive?

As for the comment about Euro 2008 ... well, yes, of course, it's an enormous tragedy - much more of a tragedy than hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands of people starving, suffering and dying in Africa.

(Jesus!)

[Jeff from Durham 12 Dec 2007 13:11:16]

I'd rather watch Natalie any day over Euro 2008 !
Sascha, have you considered emigrating ?

[Dave, Northants 12 Dec 2007 08:09:10]

Geez Sascha, chill! The state of the UK is bad but this is totally a different league.
Good luck out there Ms Imbruglia doing some fine work. And still as cute as you were back in 'Neighbours'! ;)

[Tanzania 12 Dec 2007 07:02:27]

It good to hear what Natalie is doing, especially visiting the diseases infested continent, Africa. Please visit other African Countries for the same purpose

Lufungulo from Tanzania

[john, peterborough 12 Dec 2007 01:17:50]

And what have you ever done to help anyone in this planet sasha - apart from moanning - get a life.

[Portia UK 11 Dec 2007 21:53:20]

Thank you Sky and Natalie, this is a great idea. I think the work Natalie has been doing for an end to fistula is wonderful and inspiring. It's great to see a celebrity not supporting a "fashionable" cause, and actually supporting something that is quite difficult to talk about and often swept under the rug.

[SGMKJ (Admin) - Natalie Imbruglia Forum 11 Dec 2007 21:18:21]

Keep up the good work Nat, you're doing a fabulous job !

[Marie 11 Dec 2007 20:17:40]

I agree with Sascha to a point,
However I do believe that every person has the right to support which ever charity they want.
I personally think that Sascha is simply stating what alot of people in the U.K. are thinking.
I think We are blessed in the fact that we live in a country that gives us access to health care 24 hours a day should we need it, which many countries still do not have and in these modern times it is scandalous, so for this reason we must praise people like Natalie for bringing this illness to our attention. But,I still think that sascha has a good point with regard to our own Great Britain. We are looking at a complete and total break down in our system and a social crisis which is simply being ignored. Who will be there for Britain if we need help in the future???

[Simon 11 Dec 2007 18:57:14]

Sascha, although most of your comments are valid I don't think you can put anyone down for trying to help those not as fortunate as ourselves.
You think people in the Uk have a hard time?? Yeah maybe but not as much as people in Nigeria/Africa in general.
You obviously don't realise how good you've got it in comparison.
As for being out of Euro 2008? what planet are you on??!... lol

[Joanna, Lancashire 11 Dec 2007 16:38:28]

Dear Sasha
Natalie Imbruglia isn't even English. You would have more right saying the things you said if you were australian.

Everyone has the right to help anyone they want.
Don't judge others for trying to do good things.
Jo

[Z, London 11 Dec 2007 13:36:50]

Well done to Natalie and the Sky News producer (Sophie Garratt)involved in highlighting this dreadful illness. It takes people like you to open eyes to such awful, taboo subjects that need to be in the public domain. I look forward to your future updates.

[sascha 11 Dec 2007 13:07:28]

forget Nigeria !

what about uk..

we are in a proper messed up state
!
1. We are at war
2. we are a terror target
3.our kids are shooting each other
4.highest amount of teenage pregnancy
5.we are at a huge risk of flooding
6. our immigration policy does not make sense
7.our roads are jammed with cars.
8.most of us are in debt to the eye balls
9.the prisons are maxxed out in capacity
10.our prime minister seems to have no decision making skills even though he may be a " very nice man"
11. we are out of euro 2008 which will affect our economy.
12.our media likes to crush any talents we have.
13.we are the most hated in europe.

AND YOU WANT TO GO ON A MISSION IN NIGERIA...
ONE THING TO SAY TO YOU

MUPPETS
THE WHOLE LOT OF YOU.
REGARDS
SASCHA
PS: I COULD DO A BETTER JOB.

[Khalid 11 Dec 2007 09:54:33]

Maam
Reading such divine and incredible blogs of courage, hope and charitable hearts, it really brightens the day, that despite the efforts of "Two People" there is a world full of folk, who would not only assist in the healthy progression of the patients, but bring life and prosperity to a region, undermined through no natural fault of its own.
I am confident that as the Virgin Unite, they will bring a lesson of hope and not destruction of the people they aim serve under such unpleasent of circumstances.
Nonetheless, keep your head to the Sky ( http://www.sky.com/news ) as I further join you in your prayers to bring health, wealth and prosperity to all.
(Amen) "Jean Jacques Smoothie"
All The Best!