75% of women in endemic regions may be affected
FIND HER FIRST
Before she can be treated,
she has to be found.
Help find the women still waiting for answers —
and build the care that reaches them.
HELP FIND HERand build the care that reaches them.
HER: THE PATH FORWARD
Hear her story. End the neglect.
Reach every woman.
HEAR HER STORY
Justina’s story shows what can happen when a woman’s symptoms are misunderstood, her pain is dismissed, and years pass without answers.
END THE NEGLECT
Rebekah’s perspective shows why one woman’s healing is not enough — and why care must go beyond short-term projects to reach every woman still waiting.
REACH EVERY WOMAN
Anna’s perspective helps explain what comes next: finding women affected by FGS, understanding what stands in their way, and building care that can reach them.
Hear Her Story
Thousands of women and girls may be living with Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) without answers. Their suffering remains invisible, not because solutions do not exist, but because access to diagnosis and treatment remains out of reach for most women.
THIS ISN’T JUST ABOUT A DISEASE.
IT’S ABOUT WOMEN BEING UNSEEN.
Justina lived that reality for years. She returned to the clinic again and again with symptoms that would not go away. At home, her illness was misunderstood. Her repeated clinic visits led to suspicion. Her miscarriages were followed by blame. When Justina was finally screened more carefully, everything began to change.
JUSTINA WAS FOUND.
MANY WOMEN STILL HAVEN’T BEEN.
Before care can reach every woman, we first need to know who is affected, where she is, and what is standing in her way.
End the Neglect
One woman was found. Another was still waiting.
When Rebekah Andres met Justina in Liberia, she saw what becomes possible when a woman receives the right diagnosis, medicine, and care. But as the visit ended, another young woman stepped forward, pointed to her belly, and pleaded:
“Please help me have a baby.
Please… help me too.”
That moment made the need impossible to ignore. Women like Justina are still waiting to be found before more years are lost to pain, stigma, and unanswered questions.
Ending the neglect means making sure care does not depend on the next project, the next visit, or the next chance encounter.
Reach Every Woman
Your gift helps find women first — then build care that can reach them.
Before care can expand, we need to know where FGS is most widespread, which communities are most affected, and what barriers are keeping women from diagnosis and treatment. Your support helps fund the next phase of this work in Liberia: finding women still waiting, understanding what stands in their way, and building the systems needed to reach them with care.
What your gift helps makes possible:
Find women and girls affected by FGS
Understand
barriers
Equip
care providers
Bring care
closer
EXPAND
ACCESS
Pictured with the world’s first national Urogenital Schistosomiasis strategy, Dr. Anna Wickenden and Dr. Karsor Kollie reflect the partnership helping move our work from recognition to reach.
Hear Anna explain why finding women first is essential to building care that reaches them.
HEAR ANNAYou can help the women still waiting.
Women like Justina should not have to suffer for years before someone recognizes what is wrong.
Every donation provides access to information, diagnosis, and treatment for women and girls in Liberia.
HELP FIND HERHave Questions?
FGS is often misunderstood. These answers explain the disease, why women are missed, and how your support helps build care that can reach them.
What is Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS)?
FGS is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that is caused by a parasitic worm known as Schistosoma haematobium. The disease damages the genital tract of women and girls who come into contact with contaminated freshwater. It’s often misdiagnosed for being a sexually transmitted infection or cervical cancer.
Who does FGS affect?
FGS primarily affects women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. Around 56 million are currently living with the disease, most without access to safe water, sanitation, or healthcare. Adolescents and women of reproductive age are especially vulnerable.
Why is FGS often overlooked?
This disease is often overlooked because its symptoms resemble that of other conditions. FGS is frequently misdiagnosed, leading to many women suffering years without answers. The lack of awareness among health workers and limited diagnostic tools keeps the disease hidden.
How is Effect Hope helping?
Effect Hope supports national health systems to recognize, diagnose, and treat FGS correctly. This includes training healthcare workers, integrating FGS care into routine services, ensuring access to treatment, and embedding dignity-centred care into long-term health strategies.
Keep Learning about HER.
Explore the stories and updates behind the work to find, treat, and support women affected by FGS.
