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Continued support for our partners in Ukraine

IMR has been supporting healthcare workers in Ukraine over the past two years by providing training and supplies to care for those affected by the war. In 2024, we trained medical students and resident physicians in the recognition and management of emergency conditions in primary care settings. In total, our seminars were attended by close to 100 future healthcare providers! In addition, we provided critical equipment and supplies for medical students at the National University of Uzhhorod, battlefield medics, and civilian healthcare providers. We are also thrilled to continue working with our Ukrainian IMR Ambassador Mariya. 

IMR is looking forward to returning to Uzhhorod and Lviv in May 2025 to continue providing medical education and training to our partners.

Commitment to caring for women with fistula

In 2024, IMR has been busy at work to do our part in eliminating obstetric fistula. This year has taken us back to Liberia, Madagascar, and Pakistan, and we began a new partnership with the Department of OBGYN at Edwards Francis Small Hospital, UNFPA, and the Ministry of Health in The Gambia.

In Madagascar, we were amazed by the quality of care provided by the nursing staff to the patients undergoing fistula surgery. Pre- and post-operative care is crucial to ensure the recovery is smooth so the surgical repair stays intact. IMR worked with the staff to create a nursing protocol for peri-operative care that we hope will be a valuable guide for our other partnering facilities.

In Pakistan, we were warmly greeted back to Koohi Goth Women’s Hospital to train local gynecologists in fistula repair and to treat women who had come from all over the country seeking a cure for their devastating condition. We were also delighted to instruct the wonderfully curious and engaged midwifery students at Koohi Goth, where 280 young women complete their 2 year diploma program for free, with room and board included! They are essential to their communities in preventing maternal mortality and obstetric fistulas, and it was a joy to contribute to their learning.

As part of IMR’s campaign to end fistula, our co-founder and Managing Director Mayano is running the Los Angeles Marathon in March 2025! No matter how challenging the training and the race may be, it will be nothing compared to the daily struggles of women with fistula. Support her efforts by donating below!

IMR returns to Vieques

2024 saw IMR’s return to Vieques, a community that’s near and dear to our IMR family since Hurricane Maria in 2017. We conducted home visits to vulnerable populations in Esperanza, the southern part of the island, carrying on a practice that we started a few years ago. We were also able to donate medical supplies to individuals and to community organizers. We look forward to a return this spring to continue our partnership with local community organizations.

Celebrating our Eddy Rosé Scholars

We were so proud to see our Haitian nurse scholar, Bettina, graduate from nursing school! Bettina hopes to return to her home region of Destra to serve those who have both geographic and financial difficulty accessing healthcare.

We were also honored to award $10,000 to our Black Birthworker Scholar Isatou, a Nurse Midwifery student at SUNY Downstate. Her passion for midwifery was undeniable and you can get to know her more here.

Henry was a Physician Assistant at Phebe Hospital where we worked in Liberia. When he told us he was accepted into medical school in Rwanda but could not attend due to financial difficulties, we knew we could not let such wonderful talent go to waste. He is our third scholar for this year, and we are so proud of him for pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor.

At IMR, we are a small but mighty group who’s committed to the betterment of the lives of those most in need. We are nothing without your continued support, and because of your contributions, we were able to achieve so much last year. We look forward to making more positive change in 2025!

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