For Immediate Release:	April 8, 2005
For More Information:	Lisa Russell, Love, Lobor, Loss, lisa@lovelaborloss.com, 917-554-4126
Sponsor Organization:	LOVE, LABOR, LOSS
“Change begins with consciousness”
New York, NY – When Brooklyn-based filmmakers Lisa Russell and Carrie Svingen first decided to make a film to help women in Niger living with obstetric fistula, some potential funders were skeptical. After all, who would want to watch a film about poor African women who are debilitated because of childbirth? A year later, a short advocacy version of their film LOVE, LABOR, LOSS – sponsored by the Campaign to End Fistula, EngenderHealth, the International Center for Research on Women and the Feminist Majority Foundation - is making rounds across the nation with the help of the Grammy-nominated artist, ZAP MAMA, whose hit song “Rafiki” is used in the film. ZAP MAMA’s lead singer, Marie Daulne, who was born in Zaire but left at the age of three due to war and strife, now resides in Belgium and has become an advocate on behalf of women in Africa. Together, she and the LOVE, LABOR, LOSS producers are using the media of film and music to spread awareness among the general public of this hardly-known yet prevalent childbearing injury that affects over 2 million women in the developing world. “It’s not surprising that most people have never heard of fistula given that women in the U.S. and Europe have access to obstetric care that will enable them to have safe deliveries,” states Producer Carrie Svingen. “But in places throughout Africa and other parts of the developing world, women are dieing or becoming physically and socially debilitated from childbirth because there is a general overall lack of commitment to women’s health.” “Change begins with consciousness,” adds Lisa Russell, Director. “We believe by exposing the general public to this issue - through an interesting collaboration with ZAP MAMA - we are laying the foundation to help these women whose lives can be drastically changed with commitment from industrialized nations.” Special appearances by ZAP MAMA will compliment screenings of LOVE, LABOR, LOSS at select venues during the group’s 17-city U.S. tour in April. Their goal is to build momentum for their Fistula Awareness Day on Mother’s Day, May 8th. Information on screenings and special appearances are as follows: April 11th NEW YORK CITY I-Shebeen Madiba Restaurant April 18th WASHINGTON, DC George Washington University (w/ Planned Parenthood) April 21st ATLANTA, GA Georgia Tech University (w/ CARE) April 27th SAN FRANCISCO, CA TBD Zap Mama and Love, Labor, Loss will host another round of screenings and appearances during Zap Mama's September 2005 tour on the West Coast. To host a screening, please contact lisa@governessfilms.com. Interviews are available with Marie Daulne, the filmmakers Lisa Russell and Carrie Svingen and obstetric fistula experts. For more information, please contact Lisa Russell at lisa@governessfilms.com or 917-554-4126. About Obstetric Fistula Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury that results from an obstructed labor. Women who are undernourished or whose frames are too small to accommodate a normal delivery may develop an obstructed labor, keeping them in labor for up to 5-6 days. Without access to a c-section, a woman will deliver a stillborn and the tissue damage caused from the constant pushing leaves a hole or a fistula between her bladder and vagina (or worse, her rectum and vagina), causing her to leak waste for the rest of her life. Because of the constant smell and stigma, she is often shunned from society. Fistula repair surgeries are available and affordable and can repair a woman’s fistula however lack of funding and awareness is keeping women from getting the help they need. For more information, visit http://www.lovelaborloss.com.