Olympia-based Alaffia Helps Mothers in Africa

0 Shares

 

By Eric Wilson-Edge

Screen Shot 2014-03-21 at 1.27.15 PMThe future is women. In the United States, women are a larger percentage of the population, they live longer and are more likely to both attend and graduate from college. The outlook isn’t as promising in other parts of the world and that’s something Olympia-based Alaffia is out to fix.

The skin care company began ten years ago with the goal of helping women in the West African country of Togo. Olowo-n’djo Tchala cofounded Alaffia with his wife Rose Hyde. Tchala grew up in Togo and saw his mother fight to rise from poverty.

alaffia
Alaffia’s Abide Awesso (front) and Ibada Tchala spoke at South Puget Sound Community College recently.

Alaffia works to empower women by providing employment opportunities and maternal healthcare.  The company sets aside ten percent of its budget to pay for these programs. “The short term is providing jobs for women in Togo,” says Tchala. “The long term is investing in new projects. Purchasing Alaffia products is what pays for these projects.”

Two women quietly enter a room at South Puget Sound Community College. Ibada Tchala and Abide Awesso are at the end of a four week trip to the United States. Today they’re giving a talk about maternal care in Togo. The room is mostly full, with only a few empty seats in the back.

Ibada is the Community Project Director in Togo. She speaks first and offers a heartfelt “thank you” in a soft voice which makes the cursory statement feel like a greeting between old friends. She gives the presentation in French – Rose translates.

alaffia
Alaffia maternal health clinics treat more than 1,000 women each year.

The situation Ibada outlines is altogether foreign for most of us listening. One of the biggest issues in Togo is lack of resources. Women who get pregnant often give birth at home because they can’t afford a hospital. Without proper care these women and their children are more likely to become ill or die. Sub-Saharan Africa has some of the highest mortality rates for infants and mothers in the world.

Alaffia is working for change. The company operates maternal health clinics in the Central and Kara regions of Togo. Expectant mothers have their prenatal consultations and delivery paid for by Alaffia.  Currently, 1,000 women a year receive maternal care through Alaffia.

Abide Awesso is the Alaffia Maternal Health Project Coordinator for the Bassar region in Togo. Abide has a welcoming smile and a strength hidden behind a shy demeanor. She works in 15 clinics spread throughout Bassar. One of her primary jobs is to educate women about excision. Excision – female circumcision – is a brutal practice that can result in lifelong medical problems and even death.

alaffiaThe excision project started two years ago. “In the beginning it was very difficult even to speak to women about it,” says Abide. “The men didn’t want anything to do with it.” During that first year Abide spent much of her time trying to convince people to listen. She got help from an unexpected place.  Victims came forward to spread the news and to help with training. The combined effort helped get the program going.  The next year women and even some men came to Abide for help.

The presentation ends. Olowo-n’djo asks the audience for questions. Normally, a fair amount of hand wringing and awkward silence follows. Not this time. For the next twenty minutes Olowo-n’djo, Ibada and Abide talk about life in Togo and at Alaffia. They talk about struggle and not just to rise out of poverty. The culture of Togo is rich with traditions. The trick is striking a balance between preserving tradition and embracing new ideas.

You can follow Alaffia’s Maternal Health program via Facebook or Twitter at #empowerAbideandIbada.

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
0 Shares