Village Women at Work was commissioned by the Maryknollers from Tanzanian artist Charles Ndege.

She could be my mother, my sister, my daughter or even me—-how would I want to be treated? As I meet these different women who smell, who look at me with such haunting eyes, I often reflect on how I would want to be treated if this was me who was dribbling urine so uncontrollably down my legs. What would the healing touch look like and how would it be received?

I am so privileged to be able to be here in Africa. I am able to put my arm around women suffering from fistula and give them a hug. I can help them access surgery for a repair to make them whole once again. I can help put the light back into their eyes when they know they are cured. Women who have a fistula can be so ostracized by their own family and the community that they often lose their self confidence.

I do feel that it is our role as Christian women to accept women suffering from fistula unconditionally and be there for them. To stand with them and to offer them the love and care that we ourselves would want someone to give to us if we were in this condition. We can help them regain self confidence and dignity through this acceptance and care. Their strength and resilience is unbelievable after all that has happened to them. What would have been our own response if we had suffered such a devastating injury at a time of birthing which should have brought such happiness?

These are my sisters, my daughters, my grandmothers and I am compelled by my faith to walk with them. The questions I often reflect on for myself are: Who needs the healing touch of Jesus today and how can I be that healing touch?  How can you be that healing touch? It is where you want to be.

Liz Mach has worked in Africa since 1976 as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner.  She has set up maternal-child health clinics, initiated Care and Treatment Centers for HIV patients and worked since 1997 on Fistula issues within Tanzania. Liz has been a founding member of the Board of Governors for the development of a medical school within Bugando Medical Centre  complex in Mwanza, Tanzania as well as the first Director of Development for the school. Presently she works at  a rural Health Center assisting the administration in HIV care, introducing surgical care and working with a team on the prevention of Female Genital Mutilation.