Allison Shigo received an Emmy Award for her work on A Walk to Beautiful, a documentary following the lives of women suffering from obstetric fistula in Ethiopia. In 2009, Allison co-founded Healing Hands of Joy (HHOJ), a non-profit working in Ethiopia to empower former fistula patients and eliminate fistula. Working with a team of Ethiopian advisors she developed the innovative Safe Motherhood Ambassador Training program to provide reintegration and rehabilitation services to fistula survivors. To date over 1,700 fistula survivors have graduated as Safe Motherhood Ambassadors, serving as advocates for safe delivery in their communities to prevent fistula. Healing Hands of Joy is a member of the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health’s Fistula Task Force that supported the Strategic Plan to Eliminate Obstetric Fistula in Ethiopia. In partnership with USAID & Pathfinder International, Healing Hands of Joy has expanded nationwide in Ethiopia.
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