Congolese nonprofit hospital for violently raped women

This Congolese nonprofit hospital is a place where violently raped women come for treatment of traumatic fistula, torn membranes in their vaginal canals that leave them incontinent. Eight thousand women had sought treatment at the hospital between 2003 and 2009, 15 a day. The numbers are fewer now, but the wards were still busy. Their issues went far beyond rape. The women named illiteracy, lack of access to health care, tribal customs, and discrimination as major problems. If injuries prevent women from farm work, the hospital connects them to programmes that teach other skills, such as making and selling street food. The hospital also works with international women's rights groups to host events. Despite their imense challenges, the Congolese activists were resolutely cheerful.