A moving story about women and childbirth helped galvanize golfers in a charity tournament into donating $400,000 to fight poverty in Asia and Africa.
Guest speaker Azin Soltani explained what happened when she congratulated a woman who had just given birth in a remote region of Mozambique.
“I met the woman in very remote region of the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique,” Soltani told golfers last week at the Derrick Golf and Winter Club.
“When I offered my congratulations on her giving birth, she just stared at me. It was later in Tanzania I found out why.”
In that region of the world, one in 39 women dies due to complications during pregnancy or labour.
Of the women who survive, many develop illnesses due to complications from childbirth.
“Of the children who survive, many will not live to see their fifth birthday,” said Soltani, who visited East Africa on an awareness trip under the auspices of the Aga Khan Foundation Canada.
Her story spurred golfers playing in the 17th annual AKFC World Partnership in Golf tournament into action.
“A cash call generated $100,000 alone and $61,000 was raised in the live auction,” said tournament committee chair Mebs Juma.
Ismailimail 